Hull KR's Rhys Kennedy on journey from driving Ubers to Challenge Cup dream
Hull KR's Rhys Kennedy drove an Uber around Sydney while making his way in the NRL but now hopes his Robins fly to Wembley.
The towering Aussie prop, 28, has been a key signing for Willie Peters in 2023. He has bulked up Rovers’ pack and knows one more big performance against Wigan at Headingley on Sunday will see them into the Betfred Challenge Cup final. But things haven’t always been easy for a player who spent a lot of his career Down Under playing part-time while studying for an exercise physiology degree.
Kennedy didn’t make his first-grade debut until aged 24 alongside England superstar Sam Burgess at South Sydney but he kicked on at Brisbane and wouldn’t have had it any other way. And no one ever dared do a “runner” on the giant forward when he was driving that taxi. Kennedy recalled: “I had a few jobs back then.
“I did some personal training as well but I did Uber driving when I went back to part-time. I got recognised a couple of times. Mid-year when I debuted I moved up to Brisbane Broncos so I stopped doing it then. But a few months after debuting for Souths I was still sitting in the car driving people around Sydney. There were no runners but there were certainly some interesting people you got to meet. Especially in Sydney.”
East Hull’s a lot different but Kennedy said: “It’s been good over here. Me and my partner are really enjoying it. It took us a little while to get used to the weather - but the sun’s out a bit now! And it’s been nice finishing uni'. I’ve been at uni' the last six years and this is the first year where I’ve not actually been studying. It’s been nice to have a break from that and focusing on footy.”
Gay rugby league referee lifts lid on how coming out affected officiating career
Rovers beat Cup kings Wigan 27-18 on the opening day of the Super League season when Kennedy made his debut. They also led 22-14 late on in their last meeting in May before falling to a sucker punch on the hooter and then losing in golden-point. Kennedy admitted: “That last one still stings.
The towering Aussie prop, 28, has been a key signing for Willie Peters in 2023 (Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com)"I didn’t play in it but we know we’ve been competitive in both games against these guys so we’ve certainly got some confidence going in. And the boys have told me all about the Challenge Cup. I can see how much it means to the fans, too. Looking at social media that’s obvious. They’re talking about bringing the Red Army to Headingley and it’s a big one for us. We’ve had a big poster up on the wall every Challenge Cup week as motivation showing all of Wembley’s red seats: I can see it being a good place to play.”
After losses against Leigh and Hull left their top-six hopes teetering, last week’s golden-point win at Leeds has lifted confidence heading into today’s knockout clash. Rovers - who haven’t lifted the Cup since 1980 - make a swift return to Headingley hoping for the same result. Just with less of the hassle.
Read more similar news:
Comments:
comments powered by Disqus
