'Time to push on' Hull FC coach shares Denive Balmforth desire as hooker tasked to grab opportunity
Francis Cummins has suggested that Denive Balmforth could remain at Hull FC beyond this year, so long as he builds on his recent first-team showing and improves even further in the second half of the season.
Balmforth, who is out of contract at the end of the year, was a shining light for Hull in last week’s 18-10 win over Leeds Rhinos. The 20-year-old hooker came off the bench to good effect and had a big impact on the game, scoring one try and having a say in two others.
However, the challenge now, as with all up and coming players, to master other areas of his game. And with the drive to make an impact at a club that has become a home away from home for the Leeds-born dummy half, there’s every hope that the player will continue to grow and secure his future at the Black and Whites.
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Cummins, meanwhile, is backing him to do just that, with Balmforth gunning for another shot in the Hull first-team against Warrington Wolves this Saturday afternoon. Speaking in Hull’s pre-match press conference, he said: "I think Denive showed some great glimpses. He's got a lot of improvement in his game and he knows that, and it’s not just Denive, it's any young lad.
"When they come in and do it and have a decent game, this is the time to push on and work even harder. I think that's important, one you're trying to back it up, but you're always trying to improve as well.
"With Denive, there’s no shock for us. We can see the glimpses of what he does. It's just tying it all together. That's the challenge for everybody really, but that's how you become a senior player when you get to play every week."
As for Balmforth’s future, Cummins continued: “Richie (Myler) will take care of the contract stuff but it doesn't matter who you are; it's consistency and being able to show that you can handle playing at this level. That's what it's all about.
"Hopefully, Denive will get a chance again this week and he can go again. We know the top side of Denive's game and we enjoy it, but there are other parts of his game that he can be better at. If he can get more consistent in that, then his time (on the field) will get bigger.
"Hopefully, it's going to be a success story this one, and we get it right where Denive pushes on, keeps going, and really grabs his opportunity with both hands."
Balmforth isn’t the only selection dilemma for Hull FC this week, with Jack Walker also determined to force his way back into the side. Teenager star Logan Moy has played the last three games, but Cummins has been impressed with Walker, who did a stern job for the reserves with some competition for places now arising.
"We've got most people training," Cummins added. "The selections are starting to hot up a bit and it's good that we've got a win. Logan Moy played well last week but so did Jack Walker in the reserves. That's starting to hot up and it's bringing the best out of both players. We're hoping that there's more players in other positions now doing the same thing.
"It's not so much people being out injured now, it's people picking up form now and putting pressure on people who had the shirt last week or the week before. That may change where we go this week."
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