MINCHELLA’S SLOW RETURN
Hull KR loose forward determined to ensure comeback continues to thrive
SIMPLY PLAYING in Super League again, let alone earning high praise for the quality of his displays, is something Hull KR’s Elliot Minchella admits wondering might never happen after a chequered start to his career at Leeds Rhinos.
Although Rovers - with just three league wins all season - are in dire need of a victory against Hull FC tomorrow, one positive this term has been the excellent form of the loose forward following his step- up from Championship side Bradford Bulls.
At 24, Minchella has certainly grasped his second chance at having conceded he almost threw it all away.
He made a try- scoring Super League debut for Leeds at the age of just 17 in 2013 but, two years later, was essentially banished by the Headingley club after an infamous off- field incident.
Along with Rhinos team- mate and England star Zak Hardaker, he admitted assaulting a student after a drink- fuelled night out in Leeds and was ordered to pay £ 200 in compensation as well as write a letter of apology.
Although Hardaker would finish the campaign as an historic treble- winner with Rhinos, Minchella was loaned out to Championship London Broncos for the rest of the season and never played for the blue and amber again, staying stuck on just six paltry appearances.
Nevertheless, he has made the most of his reprieve. Minchella spent two seasons with Sheffield Eagles before joining hometown Bradford and eventually securing a move back into Super League with the Robins where - although some may have thought his acquisition a gamble - his ballhandling
talents make him look every inch a top- flight talent.
“I probably did think at one point I probably wouldn’t ever get back there ( Super League),”
admitted Minchella, who has been near ever- present for Tony Smith’s side.
“Two years ago I was playing in League One. It’s been a bit of a rollercoaster but I’ve just kept my head down, kept working hard and believed in that hard work gets you to where you want to be.
“Probably at some points I did feel a bit fed- up with myself thinking I’ve blown my chance away but thankfully I’ve got a chance here and hopefully I have taken it with both hands.”
Minchella believes the skirmish with the authorities as an impressionable teenager did help him grow up.
He added: “It’s like having something dangled in front of your face and then taken away from you; it was a quick reality check. I learnt the hard way.
“But I feel it has shaped me into a better person and better man. That’s had an impact on my performances as well; I feel like it means more. At points, I’ve been working during the day and training on a night so I appreciate things a lot more now.”
Reigning Steve Prescott Man of Steel Jackson Hastings was on Twitter last week applauding the skills of Minchella who has also been used at back- row and hooker at times this term.
But Rovers are back at the foot of the table after embarrassingly falling 48- 14 at bottom- placed Wakefield Trinity on Sunday, hot on the heels of a 38- 24 reverse against Castleford Tigers.
Minchella conceded: “We’re trying our absolute best to get a performance and it’s just not happening at the minute.
“It’s been a hard few days and we’re hurting but there’s no better game than the derby for us to try and turn it around.”
Coach Smith remains in selfisolation but has recorded two negative Covid tests. Matt Parcell, Kane Linnett and Weller Hauraki return to the squad. Hull see Josh Jones back from Covid but Jamie Shaul has suffered an ACL.