Hull FC grab Griffin

Correspondent

Hull FC have signed Salford centre Josh Griffin on a three-year deal starting next season.

Griffin said he has knocked back interest from the NRL and other Super League clubs to join the Black and Whites.

“They are a club that match my ambition,” he said.

“I want to play in big games in front of big crowds and hopefully push for an international spot and I believe Hull is the best club to help me do that.

“They are a huge club with a big fan base and with the team Lee has built they are heading in the right direction.

“With the players they have got, it is no fluke that they are top of the table and I’m looking forward to getting stuck in. They tore us to pieces in Round One this year and have been massively impressive.

“I had a few clubs who offered me deals and interest in Australia so it was a decision I didn’t take lightly but as soon as Hull came in for me I had my mind set.”

The 26-year-old played for a number of Super League clubs, including Wakefield, Huddersfield and Castleford before switching to Rugby Union with Leeds Carnegie in 2012.

He returned to League two years later with Championship club Batley Bulldogs before joining brothers Darrell, now with Featherstone Rovers, and George, a former Hull KR junior, at Salford.

Oxford-born Griffin is a recognised goal-kicker and also boasts an impressive try-scoring record, getting over the whitewash on average more than once every two games.

He has touched down eleven times in thirteen matches this season, including a brace against former club Castleford in March and a try against Hull in Round One.

“Josh will be a great addition to our squad and I’m really looking forward to him joining the group,” Hull FC head coach Lee Radford said.

“He’s a player we have had to put a lot of focus on when coming up against Salford over the last couple of seasons because of his physical presence both in defence and attack and his ability with the ball in hand.

“He has a great skill set and has punished us on a couple of occasions with his goal-kicking.

“He’s joining us at a good age and hopefully in the upcoming seasons he can continue to develop as an individual and push for international recognition, as well as helping us to continue in our goal of making this team a real threat in Super League.”