With it being Boxing Day, we thought we’d look at what every Super League club would wish for this Christmas – within reason of course. Now is the turn of Hull KR who come into 2022 on the back of their best Super League season since 2009 and a first semi-final appearance in the competition. After such a fantastic campaign, what should the Robins have on their Christmas list going into 2022?
It’s hard to tell exactly, after all 2021 was such a brilliant season for the club so naturally many people believe the Robins will come crashing back down to earth next year.
After all, last season was the first time since 2013 that Hull KR secured a place in the play-offs and was their second highest finish in Super League after the heights of fourth place back in 2009. On the back of such a positive placing that season, Hull KR began to slip back down the table and back into the shadow of Hull FC and the Robins will desperately want to avoid a repeat of that this time around.
So, when it comes to what they should wish for this Christmas, what is it that the Robins truly need? The answer is quite simple: continued development.
Since Tony Smith took over in 2019, the club’s playing style has evolved massively culminating in a very effective yet easy on the eye style of play in 2021 that carried them all the way to the semi-finals. So, in order to take that next step, they need to continue to buy into Tony Smith’s philosophies.
When you look back at Smith’s coaching career, he always develops sides and makes them better than when he took over both in terms of results and in style of play. At Leeds he turned the club from bridesmaids into a powerhouse playing off the cuff rugby and at Warrington he ended years of disappointment and made them a mainstay at the top of the table whilst winning trophy after trophy.
Last year was the closest Hull KR have gotten to the Grand Final and their strongest whiff of final success since their ill-fated Challenge Cup Final appearance in 2015 demonstrating Smith’s ability to take a side who had previously struggled – Warrington were near the bottom of the table when he took over in 2009 – and make them into competitors. There development so far has taken them a long way and they’re now a fantastic side to watch but, if the club really wants to succeed, they should wish for Smith’s good work to continue developing the exciting young players at the club and who knows perhaps they could be a serious dark horse in 2022.
