Frankie Halton completes journey from military design apprentice to Super League star
FRANKIE Halton knows all too well a bit of military precision can produce the best results – he designed some of it.
The Hull KR star may have established himself as one of Super League biggest finds of 2022 after stepping up from Championship side Featherstone.
But before a top flight career was even on his radar, he played his part in making sure the country’s naval battalion was up to the job.
And there was little chance of any ship crashing and burning.
Halton recalled: “I worked for a company that looked after fire fighting systems on military ships, so we’d design all the pipework for that – it was all Ministry of Defence stuff.
“We’d do the calculations and design in house then we’d ship it out and engineers would then install it.
“I was an apprentice but I’d run some calculations and do a bit of the design. It was interesting.
“Now I’ve settled into full-time rugby and feel I can bring something good tom the team. It was a culture shock stepping up, though, but it was a good thing.
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“Four years ago, I was playing amateur at Leigh Miners Rangers and some old pictures get circulated at times but it’s good to think about that.
“In 2019, playing for Swinton, I set myself a goal of playing full time. I played some World Cup qualifiers for Ireland alongside Super League players and thought, ‘Right, this is the time.’”
Halton, 26, is part of Danny McGuire’s team aiming to ruin his former club Leeds’ top six charge as he up against the side with which he won eight Super League Grand Finals and three World Club Challenges.
And if Rohan Smith’s Rhinos win, he may be lying low.
Rovers’ interim boss McGuire said: “I still live in Leeds and I still get the stick when I go into the Co-op but I’ve got used to it and adapted to my role.
“I might be avoiding it if we lose, though!
“My family are all Leeds fans but they feel more of a connection with Rovers. I loved my time at Leeds but things move on, my chapter now is trying to do my best for Rovers.
“Most of my family will be at the game and we all love representing Leeds and being part of that city – but I’m pretty confident they’ll be cheering on the Red and Whites.”