Answer extracted from the Hull Trains – Moving Minds podcast — listen to the full episode below.
How can rugby league players focus on controllable factors when transitioning between rival clubs amid negative social media commentary?
Focus exclusively on what you can control—your own actions, reactions, and daily effort. Social media will always contain both praise and criticism, but neither determines your value or performance. The strategy is straightforward: live in the present, improve each day, and represent your club and yourself with integrity; external commentary is something to acknowledge but not absorb.
The Practice of Selective Mental Filtering
Jack Charles advises treating social media as background noise rather than instruction. He recognizes that negative comments are inevitable during a club transition, especially when moving between rival organizations, but dwelling on them serves no practical purpose.
His approach centers on a single principle: separate what lies within your control from what does not. Training quality, mental resilience, team representation, and personal conduct—these are controllable. Social media sentiment, opponent criticism, and public opinion—these are not. As discussed in the episode, Jack emphasizes that external pressure becomes manageable once you stop treating it as your responsibility to manage.
Protecting Family from the Noise
Charles extends this mindset to those around him, particularly advising family members to actively avoid reading negative comments online. Protecting emotional space—both personal and familial—is part of the discipline. When family members absorb negativity on behalf of the player, it creates secondary stress that can undermine focus.
This boundary-setting is not avoidance; it is active curation. The player remains aware of public discourse without letting it become intrusive. A detailed look at how this mental resilience develops differently across generations is explored in the full conversation between Chris and Jack.
"I don't really see it as a pressure right like this is what I've always wanted to do I love it to bits and I'd die doing it but I've never thought of it all as a burden."
Chris Charles — Former Captain, Hull Kingston Rovers. Charles played during the 1980s-1990s golden era alongside legends like Mike Fletcher, Paul Fletcher, and Wayne Parker. He joined the Rovers Academy after playing for Hull Boys Club, progressed to the first team, and became captain approximately six to seven years after joining in 1994. He has experienced significant mental health challenges during his captaincy, which he navigated privately at a time when mental health was rarely discussed openly in rugby league.
The quote reveals the deeper psychology at work: when you reframe a transition as opportunity rather than threat, the emotional weight shifts. Internal motivation—doing something you love—naturally outlasts external judgment. This is especially powerful for players moving between rival clubs, where the stakes feel personal.
There's also a fascinating parallel between Chris's era and Jack's approach in how each generation handles adversity; you can hear more about the generational shift in mental health resources and openness in this episode.
Key takeaways
- Distinguish between what you control (effort, daily improvement, personal conduct) and what you don't (social media opinion, external commentary).
- Social media criticism during a club transition is inevitable but irrelevant to your performance—treat it as background noise, not feedback.
- Protect family members by encouraging them to avoid reading negative online commentary on your behalf.
- Frame club transitions as opportunities to prove yourself, not as burdens or threats to your identity.
See also
What advantages does a younger generation of rugby league players have for managing mental health pressure compared to previous eras?
Jack Charles, Chris's son, benefits from a completely different environment where mental health is spoken about openly and resources are available. This generational shift gives younger players tools and support their predecessors never had.
How does a rugby league captain's mental health suffer when leading a team with limited resources and high personal expectations?
Chris Charles put immense pressure on himself to be a good captain, good person, and good teammate despite Rovers not having a lot of resources at the time. The isolation and internal standards he set created significant mental strain.
What drew a young rugby league player to pursue the sport full-time during the 1980s when multiple sports were available?
Chris Charles grew up watching Rovers during the 1980s golden era with players like Mike Smith, Gavin Miller, Mark Broadhurst, and Gordon Smith. Witnessing excellence and success during his childhood made rugby league the natural choice over cricket and football.