KEY MEN WILL EXIT KR
SMITH EXPECTS SMALLER ROVERS SQUAD IN 2021
HULL KR head coach Tony Smith expects to go into next season with a smaller squad after Nathaniel Peteru, Dan Murray and Kyle Trout became the latest off-contract players to be told they will not be offered a new deal.
Twelve players were originally contracted to the end of 2020 and they have all been informed of the club’s decision.
As it stands, only Will Dagger, Matt Parcell, Ben Crooks and Adam Quinlan have signed contract extensions.
Jamie Ellis, Adam Rooks and Matty Gee have all found new clubs and there is a glimmer of hope for those who haven’t, a list that also features Weller Hauraki and Ryan Brierley.
“They (Peteru, Murray and Trout) haven’t been offered contracts and they know that,” Smith told the Mail.
“If they wanted to change that situation, they’ve still got some games to do that. The same goes for Weller.
“But they’ve been told they haven’t got a contract for next year. They’ve all been told we’re not taking up the option to sign them at the moment but if anyone wants to put some games together and change our minds, it’d be crazy not to look at that.
“That goes for people playing for us and people playing for other teams too, I’m sure.”
With Mitch Garbutt on his way to Toulouse Olympique, as many as nine players could leave the club at the end of the year, in addition to loanee Harvey Livett.
George King is the only confirmed signing for 2021 and it is set to be a quiet off-season for Rovers on the recruitment front amid the ongoing coronavirus pandemic.
“The requirements may be that we just don’t have as many players,” added Smith. “It depends what our finances can afford. There won’t be many coming in for next season, that’s for sure.”
The Robins will, therefore, have to promote from within, which will prove difficult in itself after a year of inactivity for youngsters throughout the sport.
Smith recently handed teenager Will Tate his Super League debut but it may be a while before KR blood another academy product.
“That’s an area where we’ll suffer because of this year,” he said.
“There’s a lot of young men who haven’t been able to play and develop. That goes across the game. I think it’s a real worry for the sport that we’ve lost a year of development for our young players coming through.
“We’re going to have to soak that up. We’ve got a number of young boys within our squad already who we’re hoping will develop.
“Young Anesu Mudoti hasn’t had his opportunity yet, Mikey (Lewis) is starting to break through now and Rowan Milnes is with us who is young and coming through.
“These boys are going to get more workload in the coming 12 to 18 months.”