Hull KR boss issues Rhyse Martin return verdict and explains goal-kicking plans

Willie Peters was pleased with what he saw from Rhyse Martin on his first Hull KR appearance in four months on Friday night.

Martin made the move to KR in the off-season, joining the club after a lengthy spell with Leeds Rhinos, but his progress in red and white was stunted after just four games. The back-rower picked up a quad issue in February and sat out of the opening half of the season as a result.

The injury ensured he missed KR’s Challenge Cup win, too, with Martin watching on in his club suit at Wembley. However, he was deemed fit enough to make a return to action as Rovers took on Wakefield Trinity on Friday night and he made an immediate impact.

Drafted straight into the starting XIII, Martin justified his selection by getting the offload away to set up the first try of the game, scored by Tom Davies. He was spelled in the second half with KR well on their way to victory, which they eventually secured, winning 34-10.

“I thought he did a reasonable job first game back,” Peters said after the game. “He’s had a lot of time off. We brought Rhyse over to play so that’s why we put him straight back in.

“Kelepi has done a great job as well coming off the bench. We had James Batchelor out but we want a squad, we want players that come in and it doesn’t look too different and I don’t think it looked too different tonight.”

Hull KR goal kicking duties

What was notable on Martin’s return was that the back-rower didn’t take on goal kicking duties during the contest, with Arthur Mourgue retaining that responsibility.

“It’s going to be a difficult one because Arthur is a very good goal kicker, he’s a very good goal kicker,” Peters added when asked about the situation.

“Rhyse is coming back and we just wanted Rhyse to play so there’s no rush, especially when Arthur is kicking like that. It will work itself out. At the moment Arthur is doing that and that was the reason because Arthur has been kicking well but also we don’t want Rhyse doing too much kicking, we just want him playing at the moment.

“Rhyse was the first choice, he was here before Arthur came, but you want that. I want them to go and have a kick-off, see how they go, put them under some pressure and do some scenario stuff and off you go.”