‘Time for Oakes and Wallis to make grade’
ACADEMY’S NETHERTON BACKS YOUNG KR STARLETS
HULL KR duo Will Oakes and Elliot Wallis are ready to further stamp their mark on Rovers’ first team in 2019, according to City of Hull Academy coach Jason Netherton.
The young wingers both have Super League and Challenge Cup experience with the Robins and international experience with Scotland and England Academy respectively, with KR head coach Tim Sheens promoting the outside-backs from the Academy with chances in 2018.
Particularly given Justin Carney’s departure from KCOM Craven Park, Oakes – now ineligible for the Academy – has a chance to move up the pecking order in east Hull and challenge Craig Hall and Ryan Shaw for the wing berths next term.
Both contracted until the end of 2021, Oakes and Wallis are now in line to kick-start their professional careers and Netherton hopes for big things from the pairing.
“This is a big year for Will. It’s time for him to kick on and he knows exactly what is expected of him,” Netherton told the Mail.
“He’s been in and around the place for three full years now and hopefully this is the chance he’s been waiting for.
“Now Justin Carney has left, Will can hope to take over that mould of a physical winger. He’s got some competition there but offers something different to Ryan Shaw and Craig Hall. It’s up to him to take this opportunity with the first team and I hope Tim backs him.”
Oakes made eight first-team appearances in 2018, scoring three tries, but also starred on dual-registration for York City Knights, scoring six tries in ten outings.
Wallis, who has another 12 months with the joint project between KR and FC, is hoping for more game-time within the first-team environment, having scored twice in five outings under Sheens. Backed for more senior honours across the forthcoming year, Netherton joked he hopes that he ‘doesn’t see much’ of the 18-year-old up at Bishop Burton in 2019.
“Elliot is another who has massive potential. Pound for pound, he is one of the strongest and quickest kids at the club and could easily run 100m in around 11 seconds,” Netherton added.
“He has to refine his skills still but he’s fortunate to be working with David Hodgson, who was one of Super League’s best wingers of all time. He’s in his third year with us but I’m hoping, on a nice level, that we don’t see much of Elliot next year.
“Like Mikey (Lewis, who signed professionally for KR on Tuesday), he’s still quite young but he’s had a bit of Super League experience and I feel he’s ready for that next step, rather than Academy level.
“Whether it’s going out on dual-registration or on loan, Elliot can step up this year.”
This is a big year for Will. It’s time for him to kick on and he knows exactly what is expected of him. Elliot has a lot of potential City of Hull Academy coach Jason Netherton