Hull Kingston Rovers' young guns are in the first ones through the door for pre-season this morning - with the majority of the first-team squad being together by the end of the week.

Players aged 21 and under are due in so the likes of Louix Gorman, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga'e, Connor Barley, Leo Tennison and Zach Fishwick among others should be present. The strength and conditioning, performance staff, physios and coaches are all expected to be in too as the club's preparations for 2025 kick into gear.

They can expect testing including strength tests, mobility tests, bike fitness tests and cognitive tests, to give an indication of where they are now with their fitness and where they can get to by the end of pre-season. The players have already been building towards this day well in advance.

READ MORE: Hull KR coaches' in-tray as pre-season starts featuring new signings and coaching evolution

READ MORE: Hull KR having most Sky TV picks shows growing appeal - with others way behind

Gorman said: "We have six weeks off but you are still training, keeping your body right. Boys will have fitness targets that they have to hit, weights they have to hit. Or they'll be doing rehab to make sure their bodies are recovering from operations or other injuries they've had during the season. I started running three weeks ago to make sure my legs are getting back to where they need to be.

"That programme is meant for us to put on strength, muscle, and prepare us for this intense period of training that we are going to be having over the next six to eight weeks before the season starts."

The arrival of the senior players later in the week will offer inspiration to the up-and-coming players, with Gorman saying: "I kind of glued myself to Ryan Hall last year in the gym! He was a massive influence for me. Different people have different qualities so you are watching what they do. On the field, I'll look at Niall (Evalds) and see what he's looking at, how he looks at the defensive line, how he looks at attacking."

Versatile back Gorman has been on the fringes of the first team in 2024, being named as 18th man so the target now will be to taste Super League action again - having been a debutant in 2023 when Rovers rotated their squad at Wigan ahead of the Challenge Cup final.

Locally-raised Gorman said: "Obviously we got pumped at Wigan but the club made it really special for us, they treated us as if we'd been playing first team like the rest of the boys so it was really cool.

"Willie (Peters, head coach) really picks up on your effort levels and whether you are putting everything you can into being the best rugby player you can be and I feel like I've done that over the past few seasons. That's something I pride myself on."

Discussing aiming to play more, he said: "Rovers, where we are now, are a very different team to a few years ago when I'd just come in to the scholarship. It's obviously a harder task to get in now but that's testament to where the club has gone. But as a player you are looking to take your game to the next level so the better the team gets, the better you get personally. If an opportunity comes, I'll take it with both hands. To play in front of the East Stand at a packed out Craven Park is something you dream about as a player."

Click here - Get the latest news on our Rugby League Live WhatsApp channel