Danny Richardson made the most of his recall to Hull KR with a player-of-the-match performance as they trounced Salford Red Devils 42-0 in Thursday’s Betfred Super League Round 3 opener.
The half-back had been sent out to Huddersfield Giants on a two-week loan, but was brought back into the fold after Mikey Lewis was sidelined due to injury, followed by Tyrone May being ruled out as well.
Richardson even had to take over the goal-kicking duties against Salford after Rhyse Martin was hurt, but he responded by playing a starring role and took it all in his stride.
- Rowley blasts ‘awful’ and ‘pathetic’ Salford after Hull KR loss
- Watts leaves Castleford after ‘honest discussion’
- Subscribe to rugbyleaguehub.com on YouTube
“It’s the rugby league roller-coaster,” Richardson told Sky Sports. “Last week I was at another club down the M62 and back here this week.
“Every [Hull KR] player just plays their hearts out and that makes it easier to do my job.
“It’s just life, isn’t it? People go through injuries and don’t get picked, but it’s how you handle it.
“You just keep knocking on and you get the rewards for it, so I’m buzzing with that.”
It is another sign of how the 28-year-old’s career has never run entirely smoothly, too.
Richardson made his breakthrough with St Helens in 2017 and was one of seven Saints players named in the 2018 Super League Dream Team as they claimed the League Leaders’ Shield.
But by 2019, the England Knights international was sent out to Championship side Leigh on dual-registration terms and then made the switch to Castleford Tigers the following year.
Last year, he spent part of the campaign on loan at Hull KR before making the move permanent, only to find himself on the sidelines and loaned out again until Thursday’s opportunity.
Robins head coach Willie Peters expects to have May and possibly even Lewis available again for the Round 4 trip to St Helens, but Richardson is determined to show he is worthy of keeping his place.
“It’s just keeping things simple and doing my job, and manifesting doing the good things before the game and thinking positively,” Richardson said.
“That’s how I’m going to get my confidence back and that was a good start.”
