BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Davy Litten says playing in his first Hull derby and against his cousin Jez, the Hull KR hooker, would “mean the world” to him.
Litten is eyeing a spot at fulllback or on the wing for Hull FC when they host the Robins on Good Friday.
For the 19-year-old from west Hull, taking on his cousin for the first time and grabbing a win for his boyhood club would be a dream come true.
“I’ll be leaving everything on the pitch,” he told rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
“It will mean the world. Obviously I’ve got family playing for Rovers so there’s even more reason to play. It would mean the world to me.
“But once that whistle goes family goes out the window. I want to win that game.
“All 34 players will want to get the win and I want to be part of the 17 that do. Getting the win would mean everything. It’s a game we need to win.”
Litten debuted for the Black & Whites last year and has made four appearances this season on the wing, impressing in what so far has been a below-par start for the east Yorkshire side.
“I’ve loved it,” he said.
“Obviously the results haven’t really been going our way. I wouldn’t say it’s from a lack of effort or anything, it’s just the little things we need to get right.
“The derby is the biggest game of the season – Rovers at home. Hopefully it all comes together this week and we get the two points.”
Litten’s cousin Jez is six years older and made his Super League debut back in 2017.
The pair are close with Jez providing Davy with guidance on his career.
“We’re very close, we pretty much talk every day,” he said.
“We haven’t spoken recently, it will be a quiet message box between me and Jez until after the game. We’re really close and it will be tough not talking to him this week, he usually gives me a bit of advice.
“100% he’s been someone I’ve looked up to. I think he’s played 100 career games now, something you can’t take for granted.
“He’s family, but the only thing is he’s crossed to the other side of the river.”
Litten is expecting at least 15 members of his family to be at Friday’s game, but admits loyalties will be split between him and his cousin.
“They said they’ll be supporting both, but you can’t support both,” he said.
“It’s one or the other. But they all want us to both have a good game, and whoever wins, wins.
“But I want to win. It’s one of those games that you’ll look back on at the end of your career and see how massive it is really.”
Hull FC head into the derby on the back of five defeats in a row.
The outside back knows how important a victory, and snapping that losing streak, is on Good Friday.
“Considering we’ve not won in five, the mood has been good,” Litten said.
“In my opinion, this is the best week of the year. I’m excited, it’s a big game and it’s about time we get a win on the board. The mood’s good and the preparation has been good for Friday.”
