Sunday's Coming
There's been a bit of a clear-out at Hull KR this week. Following chairman Neil Hudgell's demands for a culling of the squad, veteran forward Paul Fletcher has been shown the door after almost 19 seasons in the Robins' red and white. Craig Poucher, Mark Blanchard and Neil Harmon have also been released.
Despite Hudgell's insistence that, "The four players were deemed to be surplus to requirements...", all four played against Batley last week, with Hull-born Poucher in the starting thirteen. Further exits could well be on the cards with the news that Harvey Howard has also given permission to Batley to approach Phil Hasty on loan. This one is particularly peculiar as Hull KR worked hard to persuade Hasty to move to Craven Park from Hunslet.
The exodus does provide an opportunity for Gareth Morton and Leroy Rivett to secure longer term deals: they'd been stalled on match-to-match agreements because Hull KR's squad had been considered too big at 27.
It also provides the opportunity for the Robins to sign 6ft 5in utility back Gareth Morton who joined the club from Borders Rugby Union and has been playing on a trial basis.
Last week Hull KR scrambled back from a 4-nil half-time deficit to overcome Batley 15-6. Star of the show was hooker Andy Ellis who weighed in with 30 tackles in the first half and a try three minutes after the break that started the Robins' fightback.
Joininh Ellis up-front, props Makali Aizue and David Tangata-Toa provide the horsepower and, with half-backs James Webster and Phil Hasty steering the big pack around Craven Park's narrow pitch, perennial thorn in Hornets' side Paul Mansson plays at centre.
Hornets need a big performance at Craven park if we are to throw off the current crisis of confidence that hangs over the team like an impenetrable fog. At one point last week we had four half-backs on the field (Goulding, Butterworth, Braddish and Bowker) and still struggled to produce any cohesive football of note.
It's almost as if the ability to play without fear has deserted us and that, in playing safe, we've lost all sense of adventure, invention and momentum.
A trip to Hull KR always entails grinding out a result and if hard graft really does build character, then this could well be the challenge we need to get our season back on track.
Like you, I don't much fancy having to drive all the way back from Hull peed off by a dissapointing defeat, but if we demand the commitment of the players the fans should show the same dedication to the cause. And if we all rise to the challenge, the drive home might an altogether different journey.
So get your shirt on, jump in the car and we'll see you at Craven Park.
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