Hull KR squad depth in focus after new faces join for pre-season

Hull Kingston Rovers being back in pre-season was a reminder of the squad's new-look depth ahead of 2025, with new faces sampling life at Craven Park.

For example, at hooker Bill Leyland is already here, with Micky McIlorum to follow, as they build again after Matt Parcell's exit. And, in the forwards, the likes of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Eribe Doro stepped in, with Rhyse Martin to follow, with George King and Matty Storton having departed.

Areas in which the club are lighter in terms of options with specialist senior professionals include full back and loose forward, although there are players who can cover these roles in the absences of regulars Niall Evalds and Elliot Minchella respectively. Generally though, there will be strong competition for places with capable players missing out on the 17.

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Captain Minchella said: "That's one thing that the club has been big on, that Willie (Peters, head coach) has been big on - competition for places. That brings everybody up to another level because you've got somebody who wants your shirt. If you're the bloke who has the shirt, you've got to push yourself even harder to be in the team. If you are not then somebody behind you is going to take it. As players, we want competition and, as coaches, they want it. Standards go through the roof."

Asked about being relied upon as a specialist loose forward at the club, Minchella said: "I didn't play last year towards the back end and the boys were outstanding. Dean Hadley was absolutely outstanding, he was the best player on the field when I didn't play. Dean is someone I look at to learn off because he's an outstanding professional, what he does off the field and how he gets himself ready. He gets the maximum out of himself and he's just a warrior so I've got the utmost respect for him. When I didn't play, we were in more than safe hands with him.

"Obviously I know I've got a responsibility when I'm playing but they don't rely on me. If suspensions or injuries happen in whatever position, I'd like to think that we've got enough. We've got brilliant cover and a lot of people who can play different positions."

Regarding whether he thinks Hull KR will be unpleasant to face in 2025 because of the aggression being brought into the squad, the Hull KR skipper said: "Every team has their strengths and weaknesses. We are a defence focused team first. We want to defend with resilience, defend hard. That's Willie's philosophy and it's our philosophy as players, we go and represent that, and we believe in it. That's us, that's who we are, that's our identity and that won't change. There are lots of areas we can improve and it's about getting the best out of the people you've got on the field. That's what pre-season helps with, experimenting and tweaking things."

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