Smith weighs up full-back options
TONY Smith is weighing up whether to continue with Ben Crooks at fullback after the 27-year-old struggled with the demands of the position in Hull KR’S defeat to Catalans Dragons.
Crooks was preferred to Will Tate in the number one spot on his return from injury against Huddersfield Giants and retained the role in Perpignan on Friday night.
But Smith was forced to switch things up at Stade Gilbert Brutus, with Tate moving into the full-back position and the fatigued Crooks going to the wing.
Smith admitted it was a big ask for Crooks to play full-back after a lengthy lay-off and the KR head coach will assess his options for tomorrow’s game against Salford Red Devils.
“Crooksie just ran out of legs,” said Smith.
“It’s been a big ask to come back and play full-back and he just ran out of legs.
“It’s a big ask for the kid as well in his first couple of games at full-back.
“People don’t understand the demands of a full-back and how much running they have to do.
“We’ve got to look after young guys like Will but Crooksie hasn’t played for a while and just ran out of some legs so we had to help those old legs of his out.
“He’s not used to playing that role as much anymore so we need to build him up to that again, if we’re going to play him there again.
“Hopefully we’ll have Will Dagger back soon.”
Dean Hadley and Robbie Mulhern could also return at the Halliwell Jones Stadium - alongside Elliot Minchella following his ban - but Rovers will remain without several players, including Adam Quinlan and Jez Litten.
“I’ve just said to my team that I need 8, 9, 10 players from that team who are physically and mentally capable of being ready for Tuesday,” Smith added.
“I’ll add them to some already fresh bodies in the UK ready to go.”