Page 24 - Rugby League World (February 2020)

HULL KINGSTON ROVERS

RLW PREDICTS: 12th

Hull KR are probably the trickiest team to fair share of Super League experience
judge heading into the new season. There with 35 games for the Tigers over six
has been a huge turnover of players in years. He never managed to nail down a
the offseason leading to an incredibly regular spot in the Tigers’ line-up, though.
deep squad. The club’s marquee signing is
All the way down their squad list, there undoubtedly Shaun Kenny-Dowall from
are experienced players who have either Newcastle Knights. The centre has
played plenty of Championship matches or represented New Zealand 21 times with
are regular Super League players already. his first appearance coming all the way
They swooped in and took six players back in 2007 yet he’s sill only 31 years
from Bradford Bulls all of whom are young of age.
players ready to prove themselves in In his club career, he won the NRL with
Super League. Sydney Roosters in 2013 and has
Ethan Ryan has lit up the Championship made over 250 appearances in the top
in recent years with the Bulls while competition. So there’s no doubt that
Joe Keyes and Rowan Milnes are both he brings a huge amount of experience
excellent young halfbacks. The latter, to the club which they desperately need
however, has rejoined the Bulls on loan. especially in the wake of the very serious
Three players have joined from Castleford injury sustained by Mose Masoe in pre-
Tigers. Greg Minikin scored a hat-trick season, that has sadly ended his career.
for England Knights against Jamaica The club have lost some of their more
last year and was a key part in the experienced squad members with Josh
Tigers’ 2017 campaign in which they Drinkwater, Danny McGuire, Joel Tomkins
reached the Grand Final. Jamie Ellis adds and Tommy Lee all either leaving or
2020 SQUAD: experience to their halfback picture while retiring.
1 Adam Quinlan Will Maher gets another opportunity This Hull KR squad is young and hungry
to prove himself at the top level. The and certainly has depth to it. Whether it’s
2 Ben Crooks
towering forward has largely had to make enough to stave off relegation is another
3 Shaun Kenny-Dowall
do with appearances for Halifax in the question. They do have the right man as
4 Kane Linnett Championship in recent years but has his coach to help them in Tony Smith, though.
5 Greg Minikin
7 Jordan Abdull STAR PLAYER COACH
8 Robbie Mulhern
9 Matt Parcell
10 Mose Masoe
11 Weller Hauraki
12 Harvey Livett
13 Dean Hadley
14 Mitch Garbutt
15 George Lawler
16 Daniel Murray
17 Kyle Trout
18 Jez Litten
After his move to East Yorkshire from
19 Will Dagger
Leeds, Mitch Garbutt surprised many with
20 Mikey Lewis his outstanding performances, particularly
21 Owen Harrison in the early parts of the season last year. Tony Smith is one of the most
22 Nick Rawsthorne Garbutt showcased his great strength experienced coaches around and it was
23 Ethan Ryan and offloading ability in 2019 and a great coup for Hull KR to attract him to
24 Joe Keyes will be keen to show off his big-game East Yorkshire to replace Tim Sheens.
experience with the Rovers in 2020. He Smith had taken a break from Rugby
25 Matty Gee
was a member of the Leeds side that League after leaving Warrington Wolves
26 Will Maher
secured the treble back in 2015 and won in 2017. When he arrived at KCOM Craven
27 Elliot Minchella the Super League Grand Final in 2017. Park, he was able to steer his side away
28 Matthew Storton Garbutt is part of a powerful Rovers front from Super League’s relegation zone
29 Anesu Mudoti row that features the talents of Robbie by the skin of their teeth, avoiding the
30 Jamie Ellis Mulhern and Daniel Murray among others. second tier only on points difference.
31 Ryan Brierley Previously, Garbutt has featured for But it was the flurry of wins that came
Melbourne Storm and Brisbane Broncos with Smith’s appointment that saved the
in the NRL. Rovers’ blushes in the end.

PAGE 24 RugbyLeague ISSUE #466 FOLLOW US ON TWITTER @RLWORLD
WORLD