Hull KR v Wigan: Lachlan Coote to start as quartet set for Warriors debuts
Lachlan Coote (left) and Cade Cust (right) are both set to make their debuts on Friday night
Lachlan Coote will make his debut for Hull KR on Friday when they host Wigan in their Super League season opener at Craven Park.
Hull KR’s other new signings Sam Wood, Greg Richards, Tom Garratt and Frankie Halton could also make their official debuts for Tony Smith’s side.
Dean Hadley returns to the Robins squad for his first inclusion of 2022.
Ben Crooks, Luis Johnson and Will Maher continue their recoveries from their respective injuries. Vice-captain Elliot Minchella will play for dual-registration partners Dewsbury on Sunday in a Championship clash against Sheffield.
Cade Cust, Kaide Ellis, Patrick Mago and Abbas Miski could all make their debuts in Matt Peet’s first game in charge as Wigan head coach.
Zak Hardaker is also named in the Warriors squad following a return to full contact training. Bulgaria-born prop Ethan Havard is ruled out through injury.
Hull KR: Coote, Takairangi, Kenny-Dowall, Hall, Abdull, Vete, Parcell, King, Hadley, Linnett, Storton, Litten, Sims, Keinhorst, Dagger, Lewis, Milnes, Wood, Richards, Garratt, Halton.
Wigan: Bibby, Hardaker, Thornley, Marshall, Cust, Leuluai, Singleton, Powell, Mago, Isa, Farrell, Bateman, Smithies, Ellis, Smith, Partington, Byrne, Pearce-Paul, Shorrocks, Field, Miski.
More on Hull KR and Wigan
Hull KR vice-captain Elliot Minchella to play in Championship on dual-registration this weekend
Wigan coach Matt Peet provides update on Bevan French
Brad Singleton on Wigan’s winning formula of coaching staff
Lachlan Coote praises Hull KR culture
Hull KR full-back Lachlan Coote has praised the culture Head Coach Tony Smith has created at his new club.
Coote makes the switch to Craven Park, having been part of the St Helens team to win three Super League titles in a row.
He joins a team that finished sixth in 2021, and came within 80 minutes of reaching the Super League Grand Final.
Coote said he is excited to get started at the Robins, having missed their pre-season fixtures having recovered from shoulder surgery.
He said: I think just the culture at the moment. I think it’s definitely changed from what I’m hearing since being here. It’s changed to what it used to be.
“They’re really focusing on team performances and being together in one unit, and all that kind of thing. I think that’s what Tony (Smith) is sort of implementing at the moment.
“Just enjoying the game and having fun out there and enjoy working hard for each other. And that’s the turning point. I think it showed, obviously, in that play-off against Warrington.
“Warrington are great attacking team, but they weren’t able to score any points. So they’re a team that are showing up for each other. And, you know, that’s what really excited me about coming here.”
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