Chester confirms Carlile is Hull KR’s first-choice hooker

Correspondent

Hull KR coach Chris Chester has put his faith in Keal Carlile as the club’s first-choice dummy half for the coming season.

Although Rovers were in the hunt for a more experienced hooker during the close-season, their search ultimately in frustration.

They did sign French international John Boudebza from French Elite League side FC Lezignan, though, and Chester is optimistic that both Carlile and Boudebza can step up in Super League.

“I am more than happy to give Keal his chance,” Chester told the Hull Daily Mail.

“I’m not looking for a hooker for this season. Keal deserves his chance and he needs a run of games to show what he can do. He is an exceptional talent.”

Meanwhile, Rovers prop Mick Weyman believes that the Robins’ new outside backs can score plenty of tries this season, following a strong display in the preseason friendly against Hull FC.

“I hope there are a lot of tries from the backs this season,” said the 30-year-old, who nabbed seven tries of his own in 2014.

“The more they score the easier it will be for us forwards. We have some exciting players in the backs and they are bringing more to the table than just football brains.

Terry Campese can lead us around the park very well, as he’s done it for a long time in Canberra.

“He’s the man to lead us, but Albert Kelly and Maurice Blair can do that too.

“We have a lot of enthusiastic players in the squad this season.

“There is a lot of talent here too and it is a case of gelling it all together.

“There is good depth and everyone wants to be in the squad.

“All bases are covered and we need to stick together and move forward as a group.

“We have been doing that so far in pre-season and it’s a case of keep doing that throughout the rest of the season.”