BBC Sportrugbyleague

IN ASSOCIATION WITH

Related BBC sites

Page last updated at 16:15 GMT, Wednesday, 9 February 2011

Hull Kingston Rovers season preview 2011

By Gwilym Lloyd
BBC Radio Humberside

Hull KR badge

When Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Justin Morgan sat down at the end of last season, he had already done his recruitment for the upcoming campaign.

And top of his list of priorities was a player that could replace Paul Cooke at stand-off.

Understandably all eyes will be on the Robins' headline signing for 2011, Willie Mason from the North Queensland Cowboys.

After all, he is a big name in the game - a crowd puller and rightly has an iconic status. You do not play for Australia, or in State of Origin games, without earning the right.

But, for Morgan, getting someone to play alongside Michael Dobson was his first priority.

Time will tell whether Australian Blake Green from the Canterbury Bulldogs proves the right pick.

Willie Mason
Aussie Willie Mason must be tearing his hair out waiting for the green light

The first indications are encouraging and the teams playing Rovers this season will have to come up with a better game-plan than 'stop Dobson and you stop Hull KR'.

As for Mason, when he does eventually arrive, he will be asked to play in the second row and will be more than likely used as an impact player from the bench.

However, his capture was just more than a big signing. It was a statement of intent from a club still seen by many in rugby league circles as not being the real deal.

The Robins pack looks at face value as good as any in Super League but last season they failed to deliver at times, particularly in mid-season when St Helens and Huddersfield wracked up the points with consummate ease against them.

They cannot allow that to happen this time round if a top four place is to be anything other than pie in the sky.

Out wide, winger Peter Fox has plenty to play for, namely an England jersey for the Four Nations at the end of the season.

He has failed to make the cut for the last two years and needs to be better defensively than he was in 2010.

On the opposite wing, Liam Colbon seldom gets the praise that he deserves but it is only when he does not play that it becomes clear how much he offers to the team.

Crossing the city, from Hull FC to Hull KR or vice-versa, can sometimes be problematic but, for centre Craig Hall, it has not been.

He has a point to prove after his release by the Black and Whites and there is no doubt that he is a fantastic attacking threat.

The big question mark about his game is his ability to defend.

Craig Hall
New signing Craig Hall's father Dave played for Hull KR from 1970 to 1985

The ongoing dearth of 'home-grown' centres in the game is a real problem.

But, if Hall can earn selection at the expense of either Kris Welham and Kiwi Jake Webster, he will have the chance to take his game to the next level.

The two current incumbents will, however, take some shifting.

Morgan holds great store in bringing on the young players at the club on and, if prop Liam Watts has another good season, international selection may loom large.

But the coach also has high hopes for a legion of youngsters who he believes have the ability to break through to first-team level.

Year on year, the Robins have grown into the Super League but the task in 2011 is to continue the improvement and the only way they will do that is by increasing the depth of their squad.

Mason, Hall and Green have added extra experience but the emergence of British-born talent is the way forward and that will be the acid test for all down at Craven Park.



Print Sponsor



see also
Super League form guide 2011
09 Feb 11 |  My Club
Mason delay increases for Rovers
07 Feb 11 |  Hull KR
Webster 'owes Hull KR big season'
01 Feb 11 |  Hull KR
Lovegrove to miss start of season
14 Jan 11 |  Hull KR
Hull KR sign Green from Bulldogs
13 Oct 10 |  Hull KR
Hull KR sign Hull FC centre Hall
27 Sep 10 |  Hull KR
Hull FC 4-21 Hull KR
11 Sep 10 |  My Club
Super League Show
17 Feb 08 |  Rugby League


related bbc links:

related internet links:
The BBC is not responsible for the content of external internet sites