Smith expects long Craven Park break
TONY Smith does not expect the Hull KR squad to return to Craven Park until the back end of December - but some players are already chomping at the bit to get back in the gym.
KR’S season officially came to an end last Tuesday, although it is almost two weeks since their last game against Hull FC.
The derby was Rovers’ third match in eight days and rounded off a demanding two-month period which saw them play 11 times with a depleted squad.
Smith’s players are currently enjoying some downtime and there is uncertainty over when they will be back together as the country enters a second week of lockdown.
Huddersfield Giants this week indicated that they will begin their pre-season in mid-december but KR are likely to return to Craven Park later.
“They’re having a little bit of time off from any sort of training at the moment,” Smith told the Mail.
“We’ll start them on a home programme to begin with, until we see what sort of rules and regulations are in place.
“I think they’ll spend most of December on their own programmes, like they did through lockdown.
“They’re tired. It was a particularly difficult year in many respects so they need to have a good break.”
The 2021 Super League season will not kick off until late March, meaning another long period of relative inactivity for players who had the best part of five months off in the middle of this year.
That will frustrate some individuals more than others.
“I’ve got some of them asking me if they can go into the gym next week,” Smith added.
“Some players don’t take too long before they’re ready to turn it around again. That depends on each individual.
“They’re in good shape at the moment.”