Shaun Kenny-Dowall to captain Hull KR in 2021

Hull KR have appointed centre Shaun Kenny-Dowall as captain and back-rower Elliot Minchella as vice-captain ahead of the 2021 Super League season.

Kenny-Dowall captained the Robins in the absence of Mose Masoe and Weller Hauraki due to injury last season.

Both players joined the club in 2020, with Shaun Kenny-Dowall making the switch from Newcastle Knights in the NRL and Minchella returning to the top flight from Bradford.

Hull KR coach Tony Smith said: “We have asked Shaun to be our club captain this year.

“It’s a pretty obvious choice within the way he leads us and the respect he earned from all of us throughout the whole club. That’s not just about what he’s done prior in his career and even last year, it’s just the manner in which he conducts and applies himself, along with the amount of effort that he puts in.

“By his own admittance, he would have liked to have played better last year, but it wasn’t through a lack of effort. I’ve had good conversations with him about it, that some overseas players struggle in their first year and don’t hit the heights that they would like to or have before. They often settle into that second season and become more solid.

“I’ll also say to anybody out there that when asked about the pressure of captaincy on top of performing, he said that ‘there’s pressure anyway’. He is the right person to be our leader and he was happy to put his hand up and accept that, and he is very honoured. We’re all hoping that we will see the best of him. We certainly see it in the way that he leads us on and off the field since he has been here. He is very proud, and we are very pleased that he has accepted that.”

Rugby League Nostalgia is here! Get involved with Love Rugby League’s new group on Facebook to share all your rugby league nostalgia and celebrate the rich heritage of our sport.