It’s fair to say that Danny McGuire had his fair share of adversity since taking over as Hull KR interim coach following Tony Smith’s departure earlier in the year.
With Rovers falling out of the Challenge Cup and sliding down the Super League table, McGuire was drafted in until the end of the season when current Newcastle Knights assistant Willie Peters will join on a three-year deal.
Though McGuire admitted he wasn’t ready to start with, the former Leeds Rhinos star has pulled off some magnificent wins in the face of countless injuries.
But it is those injuries which has frustrated him most as he revealed his biggest challenge as interim boss.
“It’s all been a challenge in a different way. I was really nervous when it first came around and I wasn’t ready and was afraid I wouldn’t give enough to the players,” McGuire said in the pre-match press conference ahead of his side’s clash with St Helens.
“That was the biggest thing at first, but I’ve loved it and once you’ve got a receptive bunch of players it makes the challenges pretty easy.
“You want the player to enjoy themselves and then review it and try and replicate it the next week.
“The injury stuff has been frustrating because if we had 25 players to pick from regularly then things would look a little bit different.”
Rovers’ recruitment has already been well underway for 2023 with the likes of Jesse Sue, Rhys Kennedy and Tom Opacic making the move from the NRL, but McGuire has hinted that more will be announced in due course.
“I think there is still a little bit to go, there’s a lot going on behind the scenes,” McGuire said.
“There’s still a little bit to tidy up but in the main we are settled there.
“Those boys from Australia have been recruited by Willie (Peters), so we’ve got nice strength in depth and hopefully we can promote some of our younger players.”
One of those younger players, Zach Fishwick, has just signed a new four-year deal at Craven Park.
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