Super League Season Preview 2019: Hull KR search for consistency
Hull KR enter their second season back in Super League hoping to build some consistency that will lift them towards the top half of the table.
When they were last promoted to Super League, back in 2006, they steadily built under Justin Morgan and turned in to top four contenders.
After a relatively steady, if unspectacular, season back in the top flight under Tim Sheens, they have kicked on with recruitment for 2019, adding some decent captures including Josh Drinkwater, Kane Linnett and Jimmy Keinhorst.
With the prolific Craig Hall back in their ranks having joined ahead of the Supper 8s, Rovers now have greater depth of quality in their squad and will no doubt file themselves under the “we can beat anyone on our day” category.
They have three quality half-back options in Drinkwater, Danny McGuire and Chris Atkin and the competition for places in their squad Sheens will be hoping can push them to greater heights.
New captain Joel Tomkins said: “We are trying to build consistency.
“We’ve probably got a three year plan in place at the moment, quite a lot of the core group are signed on three year contracts and without a doubt we’d like to win some silverware over that three year period.
“Whether that will be this year, nobody knows. We definitely won’t be up there in the betting for winning something, but that takes a bit of pressure off us as a squad no one expects us to be winning and be consistent.
“The main aim is to bring in a bit of consistency. Last year, Hull KR beat Wigan, but then losing games week in, week out; probably turning up once every six weeks.
“We want to be a more consistent side, if the results don’t go our way and we’re beaten by a better team, we can be proud of our performance, and we’ll take that.”
Hull KR open the season with a mouth-watering derby clash against Hull FC on Friday night.
Coach: Tim Sheens
Assistant: James Webster
Captain: Joel Tomkins
Key Man: Craig Hall
One to Watch: Chris Atkin
Ins: Jimmy Keinhorst (Leeds), Ryan Lannon, Weller Hauraki (both Salford), Ben Crooks (Leigh), Mitch Garbutt (Leeds), Josh Drinkwater (Catalans), Kane Linnett (North Queensland)
Outs: Ben Kavanagh (Halifax), Liam Salter, Matty Marsh (both York), Chris Clarkson (Castleford, trial), Justin Carney (Australia), Andrew Heffernan (released), Danny Tickle (Workington), Kieren Moss (North Sydney), Jordan Walne (Barrow), Brad Clavering (released), James Donaldson (Leeds), Todd Carney (Byron Bay), Maurice Blair (released), Joe Cator (Leigh)
Squad: 1 Adam Quinlan, 2 Craig Hall, 3 Ben Crooks, 4 Jimmy Keinhorst, 5 Ryan Shaw, 7 Danny McGuire, 8 Robbie Mulhern, 9 Shaun Lunt, 10 Mose Masoe, 11 Joel Tomkins, 12 James Greenwood, 13 Weller Hauraki, 14 Mitch Garbutt, 15 Tommy Lee, 16 Lee Jewitt, 17 Chris Atkin, 18 Nick Scruton, 19 Junior Vaivai, 20 Danny Addy, 21 George Lawler, 22 Ryan Lannon, 23 Kane Linnett, 24 Josh Drinkwater, 25 Will Oakes, 26 Will Dagger, 28 Elliott Wallis, 29 Joe Wardill, 30 Owen Harrison, 31 Adam Rooks, 32 Mikey Lewis
Prediction: 10th