Veteran loose forward ready to lead the all-stars against England
New captain Craig Fitzgibbon is determined to make sure Hull don't run out of steam in 2011 after losing in the opening round of the play-offs last year.
The Airlie Birds finished the regular season in sixth place but then saw their Grand Final dreams dashed by arch rivals Hull KR on home soil.
Fitzgibbon, who has taken over leadership duties after Sean Long opted to step down, is now hoping he can lead the club beyond the first hurdle.
Coach Richard Agar has added talented youngsters Joe Westerman and Will Sharp to his squad during the winter months and the Black and Whites have also been heavily linked with a move for Crusaders' Jarrod Sammut.
Big honour
"Sean has stepped down to focus on his game after getting a few injuries last season," Fitzgibbon said.
"That's fair enough for him and it is a big honour for me to step in after Richard Agar asked me, but we have a strong leadership group of senior players anyway so the dynamics aren't really going to change.
"We need to make sure we concentrate on performing on the field. Maybe last year we ran out of steam a bit and lost out in the biggest game in the semi-finals. You can't plot a way to pace yourself, and we suffered a lot of injuries.
"We just need to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again."
As well as leading Hull, Fitzgibbon has also been linked with the role of captaining the all-stars in the mid-season fixture against England.
A side made up of the best overseas players currently in the Super League will take on Steve McNamara's side, the game being seen as ideal preparation for the Four Nations tournament at the end of the campaign.
High-profile side
"I'm sure a lot of Australian players and ex-pats over here would want to be involved and I'd be no different," the loose forward said.
"We would all put our hands up to be involved, it would be a great honour and I would be no different. If I was lucky enough to be selected then that position (of captain) would be something I'd love to do as you don't get many chances like that.
"It would be a representative side and those opportunities don't come along every day in your career, that chance to play in a high-profile side, in an intense atmosphere and in front of a big crowd in a great stadium, especially when you get to the stage where I am at in my career.
"I think it will do the England boys some good to have some time together in camp, to have an intense, competitive fixture in the middle of the season to warm them up for the internationals at the end of the season."
Meanwhile, chief executive James Rule has confirmed full-back Jordan Tansey remains subject to an internal disciplinary investigation after he was omitted from Sunday's friendly win at Castleford for off-field reasons.
The Airlie Birds finished the regular season in sixth place but then saw their Grand Final dreams dashed by arch rivals Hull KR on home soil.
Fitzgibbon, who has taken over leadership duties after Sean Long opted to step down, is now hoping he can lead the club beyond the first hurdle.
Coach Richard Agar has added talented youngsters Joe Westerman and Will Sharp to his squad during the winter months and the Black and Whites have also been heavily linked with a move for Crusaders' Jarrod Sammut.
Big honour
"Sean has stepped down to focus on his game after getting a few injuries last season," Fitzgibbon said.
"That's fair enough for him and it is a big honour for me to step in after Richard Agar asked me, but we have a strong leadership group of senior players anyway so the dynamics aren't really going to change.
"We need to make sure we concentrate on performing on the field. Maybe last year we ran out of steam a bit and lost out in the biggest game in the semi-finals. You can't plot a way to pace yourself, and we suffered a lot of injuries.
"We just need to make sure the same thing doesn't happen again."
As well as leading Hull, Fitzgibbon has also been linked with the role of captaining the all-stars in the mid-season fixture against England.
A side made up of the best overseas players currently in the Super League will take on Steve McNamara's side, the game being seen as ideal preparation for the Four Nations tournament at the end of the campaign.
High-profile side
"I'm sure a lot of Australian players and ex-pats over here would want to be involved and I'd be no different," the loose forward said.
"We would all put our hands up to be involved, it would be a great honour and I would be no different. If I was lucky enough to be selected then that position (of captain) would be something I'd love to do as you don't get many chances like that.
"It would be a representative side and those opportunities don't come along every day in your career, that chance to play in a high-profile side, in an intense atmosphere and in front of a big crowd in a great stadium, especially when you get to the stage where I am at in my career.
"I think it will do the England boys some good to have some time together in camp, to have an intense, competitive fixture in the middle of the season to warm them up for the internationals at the end of the season."
Meanwhile, chief executive James Rule has confirmed full-back Jordan Tansey remains subject to an internal disciplinary investigation after he was omitted from Sunday's friendly win at Castleford for off-field reasons.
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