It’s great to see Hull KR thriving and - despite Thursday’s agonising golden point loss to Wigan - I think they can challenge for all trophies this season.
My overriding thoughts of my own time at the Robins are that there’s a lot of good people involved there. There’s some fanatical supporters and a real desire for the club to do well. Over a period of time, they’ve managed to progress each year on and off the field. They have aims of wanting to be a top-four side in both senses. It looks like they now have the right people in the key places going forward. Obviously, Neil Hudgell is a very giving and passionate owner who has a great rugby league knowledge.
But now they have an outstanding board, too, bringing together some of the most successful businessmen in Hull which can only add intelligence and financial nous while Paul Lakin is another sharp operator as CEO, someone who has the ambition to get them to the top.
There’s also Craig Franklin, who’s somebody I worked with at my time at the club when he was head of marketing and outstanding in his own field but is now doing a great job as chief operating officer.
And then on the field, I think Willie Peters has been their biggest signing as head coach. Him and Danny McGuire working together has really transformed KR into a difficult side to play against: one who can score points but also pride themselves on their defensive attitude.
It is defence that wins you titles. Defence allows you to win games when your attack is a bit clunky and not working well. Defence is all based around mindset, and effort and working hard for each other. They are all choices. You can make those decisions to turn up every week and Willie Peters and his coaching staff have created an environment where they expect that and that kind of behaviour is rewarded. That is why you see them play as well as they have and mixing it with the big boys this season.
Rovers have done their homework on all of their overseas signings. They have signed the right people - players who are talented, humble and want to contribute towards the side - and then mix that in with probably the best young British half-back pairing in Mikey Lewis and Jordan Abdull and it’s clear to see why they are faring so well.
They have that good mix of good young, British players, overseas players who care about the club and then your players who are at the other side of their international careers but can still contribute week to week in Super League like Ryan Hall.
And we all know Hally won’t stop until he gets Danny McGuire’s record for Super League tries!
- BETFRED - PASSIONATE ABOUT SUPER LEAGUE
