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| Hull KR youngsters Moore, Kirkbright and Okoro (image HKR twitter) |
The long, cold hard slog of pre-season has begun today in East Hull as the first batch of players return to Hull College Craven Park this morning to start off the 2022 schedule for the Robins. Long term absentee Elliot Minchella and emerging front rower Matty Storton have already started their preparations with Storton bagging a few more weeks of extra training helping Minchella in the final stages of his rehab after a long year out with a ACL injury sustained in March 2021, a injury that ruled him out for the entire campaign. Both Storton and Minchella will be vital in the pack for Rovers in 22' as the reds enter the new season full of optimism after reaching the semi-finals of super league last time around.
Another player returning today is Ethan Ryan, the former Bradford winger showed glimpses of brilliance in both attack and defence last season including a cracking try against Wigan and a last ditch effort on the hooter against Huddersfield which saw the robins pick up their first victory of 2021, but two wrist injury's, ironically on different arms saw the winger's appearances limited but the 25 year old will be hoping for a injury free campaign as he looks to cement the right hand wing spot, battling it out with Ben Crooks for the number 2 jersey.
New signings Greg Richards and Tom Garratt also start their season this morning with the duo making the step up into super league after leaving London and Dewsbury respectively to link up with Rovers. Both will be looking to nail down a role in the front row this season with the hope of repaying Tony Smith for the chance to play in the top tier of Rugby League. I remember Richards from his days at St Helens and came up against him in our academy days, a strong no-nonsense prop who does all the hard work which goes unnoticed in the sport and Greg will be ready and raring to start day 1 and bag a big pre-season under his belt before the season kicks off. Garrett could be a hidden gem found by Smith and Mcguire, the towering 6ft 5 forward impressed the recruitment team in East Hull with the reds paying a transfer fee for the services of Garrett from the rams for the next two-seasons. Smith described Garrett when the news broke out of the transfer by saying "He's a big, strong, ambitious young man with some maturity. Probably in his prime for a prop" Tom will be looking forward to a full-time pre-season environment after sweeping up at the Dewsbury awards night last month and picking up man of the match on most occasions for the West Yorkshire club, keep an eye our for Richards and Garrett.
Promising full-back Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e will return for pre-season in his first full campaign as a Robin. Rovers swooped in for PLT back in August which saw the 18-year-old return to Keighley on loan until the end of 2021. PLT has trained with the first team on a weekly basis before so the electric back has already experienced working under TS, but with the signings of Lachlan Coote and the retention of Will Dagger, I expect PLT to feature heavily in the reserve system for the next few seasons which will maybe see him head out on loan throughout the year to gain vital experience in the men's game as he develops both physically and mentally in the game of Rugby League.
Academy starlets Connor Moore, Max Kirkbright and Daniel Okoro (pictured above) all start their journey as professional Rugby League players today as the trio step up from the under 19's system after all signing two-year deals with the first team after impressing for Jason Netherton's men. Moore and Okoro ply their trade in the front row and have been described as hardworking forwards. The duo will be expected to learn from the likes of George King, Albert Vete and Korbin Sims as they transition into the full time system and like PLT, will be hoping for a successful reserve campaign which again, may see the two drop into league one or the championship to battle down the middle and play against some very physical outfits. Outside-back Max Kirkbright has been praised for his attitude on and off the pitch which see's him promoted to the senior team for 2022. Working with the likes of captain SKD and experienced outside backs such as Ryan Hall and Ben Crooks and prolific try scoring assistant coach David Hodgson, the young centre is in good hands as he looks to develop his game. All three are in the long term project for Hull KR and I hope to see them play plenty of Rugby in 2022 either for the second team here at Rovers, or on loan gaining vital experience.
Finally, up and coming first teamers Tom Whur, Charlie Cavanaugh and Will Tate complete the first batch of players returning today. 2021 saw Whur and Tate head out to Rochdale on loan, a move with benefitted both players. Tate did manage to take his chance when the injury crisis hit the robins which saw him feature in the final 3 games of the season including the heroic 0-19 victory against Warrington and the semi-final defeat in France. When Brad Takairangi left the field in Warrington for a HIA, Tate stepped up in Lancashire and although he only featured for a limited amount of time, the up and coming youngster kept the ship steady until Taka was ready to return to the game. Cavanaugh featured for the 19's last season with the Hooker leading from the front as the dominant number 9 in the academy. Game time will be limited due to the impact Parcell and Litten have on the squad, but CC will look to emulate Jez in the next few seasons as another exciting Hull born Hooker playing for his hometown club. Like most players starting pre-season today, all 3 will be vital for our reserve campaign and will look for game time wherever they can take it in 2022, before their time comes in years to come.
The remaining first team members return next week which will see the training intensify and the demand on the players increase over the winter period. This week I imagine the aim is for the players to blow off some cobwebs and identify the personal plans for each individual going into 2022. Lets hope for a injury free off-season as we look forward to the return on the robins next season. Good luck to all starting today, enjoy the daunting Watt Bike and Hill sessions and give everything in all you do. Fitness can play a huge part in a successful team, if rovers can outmatch their opponents stamina and intesity levels, especially in the middle of the park, the likes of Lewis, Abdull, Parcell, Coote and Litten can cause havoc against a tiring pack which we saw last season with rovers playing their best Rugby when on the front foot and dominating games. 2022 has official kicked off for Hull Kingston Rovers.
Joe Appleyard
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