THE birth of a daughter has helped give Jez Litten a new purpose in Hull KR’s quest to bring a long-awaited major honour back to the east of the city.
Litten and partner Emily welcomed Betsy into the world in November last year, making the hooker the latest member of the growing fathers’ club in the Robins’ squad.
The 27-year-old now has another Betftred Challenge Cup final to look forward to on June 7 as well, after helping Hull KR reach Wembley in 2023 and last year’s Betfred Super League grand final, with fatherhood giving him that extra motivation to end the club’s 40-year wait for one of rugby league’s biggest prizes.
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“I think it’s been good,” Litten told BBC Radio Humberside. “She gives me that purpose…I want to go out on the pitch and do her proud.
“Especially when you have these big games, you want her to be able to look back and say ‘my dad played in that game’.
“I know a lot of the boys are like that, a lot of the boys have kids and young kids as well around us, and I know they have the same mindset.
“They just want to do their kids proud. That’s my goal, really.”
Before they can start thinking too much about the cup final against Warrington Wolves, Hull KR have a Super League match at home to St Helens on Friday night.
Victory over Saints would make it the league leaders’ best start to a season since 1966, with Litten playing more and more of a signifcant role for the team as the campaign has progressed.
An injury to off-season signing Michael McIlorum has seen him shoulder the burden of playing the full 80 minutes in the No 9 role at times this year, along with having to slot into the halves if needed.
But it is a challenge Litten has more than risen to, and he is determined to establish himself as that rarity in the modern game of an 80-minute hooker.
“It’s just fitness and game management,” Litten said. “I worked a lot on that in pre-season and I’m working on it weekly.
“It’s just experience, really, you pick your moments in games and pick your opportunities.
“Pressure is everywhere – when you come off the bench there’s pressure to have that impact and at the start of the game there is a pressure to start well or when you come on at the start of the second half.
“There’s always that pressure, you’ve just got to deal with that and the more you play, you accept it.”
As well as finally landing one of the sport’s big prizes for Hull KR after missing out in the past two seasons, Litten has half an eye on making the England squad for October and November’s Ashes series.
Litten’s sole England cap so far came in a 64-0 win over France in 2023 and he faces competition from the likes of Daryl Clark and Danny Walker to be lining up against Australia later this year.
He did, however, speak with national team boss Shaun Wane following last month’s 28-12 defeat to Wigan Warriors and knows his performances for his club are what will earn him recognition by his country.
“That would be unbelievable,” Litten said. “It’s the pinnacle to represent your country.
“Obviously it’s an Ashes series at the end of the year and I think every player in Super League would be thinking about it.
“I’m just one of them who is hoping to put their best foot forward for it.”