WHAT ARE KR’S TOP PRIORITIES?
ROVERS’ STARS WILL WANT TO PROVE A POINT TO SHEENS
There are just two weeks remaining until Hull KR return for pre-season preparations ahead of the 2019 campaign. Since the season finished in September, Rovers stars have been enjoying their break, but what issues do the Robins have to contend with or positives to look forward to?
HALF-BACK SEARCH GOES ON
IT’S been well documented that Rovers are in search of a third experienced half-back for 2019, with Danny Mcguire and Chris Atkin only having recognised pivot status.
There are square pegs that can fit in round holes, such as Tommy Lee and Maurice Blair, but coach Tim Sheens is keen to recruit another playmaker with similar capabilities to Mcguire and Atkin.
It’s not imperative a fresh face is brought in for pre-season starting on November 12, but it’s high on Sheens’ priority list. KR will take their time to get the right man but perhaps this is the most crucial task ahead of next season.
ONE SENIOR PLAYMAKER IN FOR START OF PREPARATIONS
KR want three ‘first-choice’ halves for their top-flight tilt, yet in a fortnight’s time only Mcguire will enter Craven Park’s doors on day one as the senior playmaker.
Atkin’s experience away with the England Knights in Papua New Guinea means he won’t be returning until December, and the three weeks without his services means Rovers will have to make-do during that time.
From the Academy, Mikey Lewis, who signed his first professional contract last week, will be excited by his opportunity for three full weeks of preparations alongside Mcguire and company. It’s not a massive issue for Sheens, in fact it could work in their favour. WELCOME RETURNS FOR ROVERS’ STAR PLAYERS WHILST there have been 10 departures from the Robins’ class of 2018, three key figures are in line to return for pre-season.
Ryan Shaw (knee), Danny Addy (ACL) and George Lawler (ankle/leg) all sat out large parts of last season with injuries, but bring experience and many options to Sheens on day one.
Perhaps Addy will be the biggest gain felt. Sitting out the entire campaign after sustaining the anterior cruciate ligament problem in the derby friendly win over Hull FC, he brings versatility at loose-forward, in the halves and at hooker, so it will be interesting to see where he fits in. OTHERS WILL BE KEEN TO MAKE AN IMPRESSION AS always with pre-season, it’s an important time for those fringe players to stand out from the crowd.
A number of those remain at the Robins despite the mass exodus of a fortnight ago.
Josh Johnson is one forward who needs to try and force his way into the Robins pack.
Overcoming the likes of Robbie Mulhern, Nick Scruton, Lee Jewitt and Mose Masoe won’t be easy, but Johnson knows he has to convince Sheens that he’s worthy of a more prominent role in 2019.
Joe Cator, in the final year of his current deal, is another who should be thinking about stepping up to be a full-fledged first-teamer.
He’s shown glimpses and the potential is there but with only five appearances last term, he’ll be keen for more.
Then there are the new signings, Jimmy Keinhorst, Weller Hauraki and Ryan Lannon, all keen to make an impression on day one.