Reasons for optimism, how have Rovers’ stars fared since the restart?
Hull KR are enjoying their longest break since August after an unrelenting seven-game schedule. Rovers played Super League’s top four in six straight matches before ending September against Huddersfield Giants, who inflicted a sixth defeat on Tony Smith’s men.
Smith has used the period to assess his squad following the decision to scrap relegation.
Here, we rate all 31 players used since the restart.
Adam Quinlan (two appearances, two tries): Showed his class before suffering another untimely injury. There have been fears he has played his last game for Rovers but it is understood he has agreed to stay on. 7 Ben Crooks: (two appearances, one
try): But for a couple of injuries there is a good chance Crooks would still be Super League’s top tryscorer. The committed and passionate back brings a whole lot more to the Robins than tries. 7 Shaun Kenny-dowall (seven appearances, two tries): Has looked better on the wing in the last couple of games but is still prone to frustrating errors. KR’S only everpresent this year, a feat in itself. 6 Kane Linnett (six appearances): The Australian was outstanding against Wigan and has been solid either side of that win at Headingley. 7 Greg Minikin (five apps, three tries): Scored a hat-trick in that game but has found opportunities hard to come by in the other matches and could be set for a run at centre as Smith experiments. 6
Jordan Abdull (three apps): It
has been a frustrating first season back but he has influenced the games he has played in since the restart, underlining his status as KR’S best half-back. 8
Robbie Mulhern (four apps):
Strong first outing against St Helens in late August but - like many of his team-mates - has struggled to build any momentum. 6
Matt Parcell (five apps, four tries): Had his moments playing second fiddle to Jez Litten but showed his class against Huddersfield as he looks forward to a run in the side. 6
Weller Hauraki (six apps):
Some big efforts in the middle, the highlight helping to see off Alex Walmsley and James Graham in the second game against Saints. 6
Harvey Livett (two apps): Suffered a setback when he fell ill just before the restart and has barely featured since ahead of his impending move to Salford. 6
Dean Hadley (five apps, two tries): One of KR’S best in the games against Wigan and Saints, mostly solid in his other outings. 7
Mitch Garbutt (three apps): Has brought some punch to the Rovers pack when he has played but is clearly struggling with niggles. 6
George Lawler (six apps): Has been converted to a prop by Smith and continues to punch above his weight. A leading performer in the pack. 7
Dan Murray (six apps): The prop is almost an automatic pick so
Smith likes him but has struggled to replicate his 2019 form. 5
Kyle Trout (three apps): Two ineffective performances followed by a strong outing against Huddersfield, which may buy him more time as he looks to earn a new deal. 5 Jez Litten (four apps, one try):
The big success story since the restart, with the hooker increasingly looking at home in Super League before sustaining a cruel injury. 7 Will Dagger (four apps):
Got a run at full-back in the absence of Quinlan and looked good before he too suffered an injury setback. 7
Mikey Lewis (three apps): Won the man of the match award in the narrow defeat to St Helens and has shown enough to suggest he has a big future. 7
Owen Harrison (two apps): Tough to come in as a youngster and make an immediate impact but the forward seems to lack belief. 5
Nick Rawsthorne (two apps):
Had to wait a long time for his Super League debut but has looked strong and shown a good pair of hands. 6 Ethan Ryan (four apps, two tries): A natural finisher and another player who was settling in nicely before injury struck. 6
Joe Keyes (two apps): The halfback has featured sparingly, leaving him up against it as he looks to make an impression. 6
Matty Gee (five apps): The backrower certainly gets stuck in and has given a good account of himself. 6
Will Maher (two apps): The towering prop was always going to struggle under the new rules and so it has proved. 5 Elliot Minchella (five apps, two tries): The versatile forward has to be a contender for KR’S player of the year. Smith’s side look more solid in defence and more dangerous in attack with Minchella out there. 7 Matty Storton (four apps):
The young back-rower quietly goes about his business and is only going to get better. 6
Jamie Ellis (four apps, two tries): A threat when he takes on the line and can pull something out of the bag but comes up with some poor plays and is suspect defensively. 5
Ryan Brierley (three apps, one try): The playmaker has been unable to put back-to-back games together since the restart and when he has played Rovers have spent most of the time on the back foot. 6
Nathaniel Peteru (seven apps): Has had some quiet outings but overall a positive addition and shown he is worth
another year. 7 Will Tate (two apps, one try):
Impressed after being thrown in at the deep end against Leeds and overcame his early struggles following a move to the wing at Huddersfield to score his first Super League try. 6
Jimmy Keinhorst (one app, one try): Brought in from the cold and it was a familiar performance in the league defeat to Leeds, with Keinhorst enjoying some good moments in attack but struggling defensively. 6