Smith in no rush to sign new faces
BUT KR COACH’S DOOR IS STILL OPEN AHEAD OF 2022
HULL KR are increasingly likely to go into the new Super League season with the squad currently at Tony Smith’s disposal.
The Robins are heading into 2022 with a 32-man squad, which includes seven players without any Super League experience.
Rovers still have an eye on the recruitment market but Smith is in no rush to add to the six new signings for next year and beyond.
He told the Mail: “We’ll probably be running into the season with the squad we’ve got now but are we still looking? Yes.
“It’d have to be something that helps us and strengthens us. That is still a possibility.”
It would be uncharted territory for the Robins to have their squad in place before the end of the previous campaign, with recruitment tradionally a high priority at this time of the year.
Smith is optimistic the resources would be available should he need to make a signing once the 2022 season gets under way. “I would think so,” he added. “We’d have to cross that bridge if and when.
“I’m more than happy with what we’re going into the season with and the strength in depth and the competition for places we’ve got. “It’s not a high priority. I’ll only add to the squad if it’s going to make us better.” KR have made two signings from Super League in Lachlan Coote and Sam
Wood, with Tom Garratt, Greg Richards, Frankie Halton and Phoenix Laulu-togaga’e all coming from the lower leagues.
Rather than rely on a raft of highprofile signings to take Rovers to the next level, Smith is determined to improve the squad he already has.
“My job is to get the best out of what we’ve got here,” said the experienced coach.
“I’m really happy with the boys we’ve got here and the people that we’ve got.
“I’m really satisfied but at the same time if it was necessary or something really jumped out at us that could improve us, that’s my job to make those recommendations. I will do if that happens.”