Yusuf Aydin's Hull FC intention after explaining how he knew his KR career was over

In a period that will go down as one of Hull FC's worst-ever recruitment cycles, the acquisition of Yusuf Aydin was one they certainly got right.

Arriving from across the river, Aydin was a success story in a season many will be keen to forget. But for the prop, it was the opportunity he had been waiting for. The defeats were hard to stomach but for the first time, the 24-year-old could claim to be a regular Super League player.

He had hoped to do that at Hull KR, unfortunately, it just didn't materialise. He enjoyed a strong pre-season which saw him start the season in the Robins matchday squad, but after dropping out of the team, he felt the writing was on the wall.

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Reflecting on the closing stages of his time at Craven Park, Aydin said: "I'd played round one and a handful of minutes in round two. There wasn't much going on and I didn't want to play in Championship this year coming, which I think I would have done if I'd ended up staying at KR for the year.

"But I put myself in the window by coming here, and I haven't looked back since. I've no regrets; it's the best thing I could have done. It gave me an opportunity to play games, and I think I had an OK year.

"I think after playing against Leeds in round two, then I didn't get selected the week after that, I knew my time was probably done and if I was to sign again, I'd be like the 25th man. In the back of my mind, as much as I didn't want to admit it, I think I knew it was done."

A move to the MKM Stadium soon followed, and while it was a controversial one by design, it ultimately worked out for all involved.

"I wanted to play and I got what I wanted," he said. "We were getting pumped at times and results weren't going the way any of us would have wanted, but when I reflect back, I was right in the middle of what I wished for: playing week in, week out.

"Irrespective of the results and how it was going, I was getting what I wished for months prior to that, so I was just trying to put my best foot forward."

Naturally, everyone wants better this year but based on early evidence of what's been implemented, Aydin is confident that will happen.

"When you think about it deep down, there aren't many words for last year other than abysmal, but if you look at where we are now a few weeks into pre-season compared to then and if you'd have told me things would get to where we are, I'd have taken it. It's crazy.

"You can just tell. The people that are in, there's a heck of a lot more experience around and it feels fresher. There's just a different vibe around the place."

He added: "I've had a thought about what I want to get out of next year and I want to make sure I improve on last year and be a name in the seventeen every week. I want to play more minutes than last year and be in and around that team every week.

"Whatever comes off the back of it, so be it. I want to prove to myself that I'm worthy of being at Hull FC. They've given me the chance to come here and prove I can be a player."

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