Hull KR look set to be without Elliot Minchella for this week at the very least as they take on Leeds Rhinos at Craven Park. The loose-forward has been handed a two-game ban, ruling him out of Friday’s fixture and KR’s first play-off clash.
Rovers have confirmed that they will appeal the decision in the hope of seeing the punishment downgraded, but it seems likely that Willie Peters’ side will have to make do without him in their final regular season fixture.
Minchella is the club’s captain and he’s hardly missed a game this season. As such, it seems Willie Peters might just have a decision to make about who leads his side out against the Rhinos.
With that in mind, here’s five Hull KR captaincy candidates for Peters to consider.
Matt Parcell
This would be the romantic choice, with Parcell playing his final regular season game at Craven Park and against his former club, no less. The hooker hasn’t confirmed his next step as of yet, but he’ll be leaving east Hull when the season comes to an end and Peters might just give him the nod out of sentimentality.
Parcell has been with Rovers since 2020 and has been instrumental in their rise from strugglers to challengers over the last few seasons.
Ryan Hall
Part of the club’s leadership group, Hall would be the most experienced choice to skipper the Robins. He leads by example week in, week out and like Parcell, he will also be leaving the club at the end of the season, after taking up a deal with the Rhinos. He’s a leader off the field and he might be one of the more obvious choices to lead on it.
Dean Hadley
Hadley has been one of KR’s best this season and Peters may well be tempted to reward him with the captaincy in Minchella’s absence. He’s understated but gritty and gets the job done whether he’s playing through the middle or on an edge and right now, he’s one of the favourites on the terraces at Craven Park.
James Batchelor
Like Hall, Batchelor is a member of Peters’ leadership group and that makes him one of the next cabs off the rank to skipper the side when Minchella is out. He’s had a fantastic season in KR’s back row, with his form showing consistency and reliability, and while at 26 he is just about on the younger side of the Rovers squad, he oozes seniority.
Mikey Lewis
He’s arguably been the best man in Super League this season and with one round still to be played he has to be regarded as a favourite for the Man of Steel award. He’s sparkled for some time in the Rovers’ pivots but this season he’s done it with maturity and authority, keeping his cool in the heat of the battle and taking games by the scruff of the neck on a near weekly basis.
Despite being one of the youngest, he’s a leader in this squad and with Minchella in the stands, Lewis should be considered as an option for the skipper role.
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