Hull’s new Australian head coach Brett Hodgson has thrown his weight behind plans to revive the Exiles team – and the Super League club’s former State of Origin stand-off Josh Reynolds has put his hand up to play for them.
The Exiles, made up of Australian, New Zealand and Pacific Island players contracted to Super League clubs, were formed in 2011 to provide competitive mid-season opposition for England in the build-up to the 2013 World Cup.
Hodgson, an Origin fullback himself who won the Man of Steel during his successful five-year Super League stint with Huddersfield and Warrington, made three appearances for the Exiles, captaining them to a 32-20 victory in 2012.
The concept was dropped after the World Cup but is expected to be brought back ahead of the 2021 tournament, with Shaun Wane’s England side set to take on a Super League-based team of Australasians on the last weekend of June.
“I really enjoyed playing for the Exiles,” Hodgson said at a Hull pre-season news conference on Thursday.
“I thought it was a brilliant concept but for whatever reason it wasn’t given the legs it needed.
“I absolutely support the English game and I want England to be successful at the World Cup.
“In order to do that, they need to play high quality games mid-season and there’s nothing better than having the Exiles back.
“And they need to give it a crack for five or 10 years.”
Reynolds, who made four appearances for New South Wales from 2013-14, said: “I think it’s a pretty cool concept. If I did get the opportunity to play in it, I’d be keen to do it.
“I suppose it would be a bit of fun but also get them ready for the World Cup.”
Reynolds is the only signing made so far by Hodgson, who was appointed by Hull in November as the successor to Andy Last on a three-year contract.
Hodgson admits he spoke to former New Zealand international Benji Marshall, who is poised to join South Sydney, but says the talks were only tentative and he is thrilled with the addition of Reynolds.
The 31-year-old Reynolds played in two Grand Finals for Canterbury Bulldogs but made just 22 appearances in three injury-hit seasons with Wests Tigers and is now looking forward to rebuilding his reputation in Super League.
“It’s obviously a very different experience from back home but it’s a challenge and it’s probably the most I’ve been challenged in pre-season to be completely honest, with the conditions and adapting to things on and off the field,” said Reynolds, who’s signed a two-year deal with the option of a third season at Hull.
“I didn’t play much for the last couple of years but I feel really good. I’m not going to try to set the world on fire straight away, I just want to get back to doing the little things right. I feel when I do that, it’s when I play my best footy.”
