Hull KR boss Willie Peters has disregarded the club’s failed appeal against Elliot Minchella’s ban and instead insisted that the Robins must focus on what’s ahead of them.
When asked about the fact they would be without their captain following the club’s second failed appeal to downgrade the Grade C charge, Peters was dismissive on the matter.
“All due respect, it’s in the past,” he explained.
“We’re all focusing now on who’s playing. Dean Hadley coming in has done a great job so I don’t want to focus on the past, you get stuck in the past when you do that.”
Minchella had been handed a two-game ban back in Round 26 for his high shot on Leigh Leopards’ full-back Matt Moylan. Sin binned at the time, the club’s skipper was then handed a Grade C charge which carried a two-game ban, something that Hull KR twice failed to downgrade.
It means that he will miss Friday’s semi-final against Warrington Wolves and that is all that Peters is focused on as opposed to failed Operational Rules Tribunals.
“We’re focusing on the players that we’ve got available and what they’ll do on Friday night and I’m more than confident in their ability, especially Dean Hadley, who everyone loves playing with.
“He’s consistent. He does the same job every week and you know that he’s going to be a great teammate again for the rest of the team.”
He had told Serious About Rugby League recently about the huge role that Dean Hadley would have to play, labelling him a ‘player that others want to play with’.
What role has Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella had this week?
Credit: Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
Whilst Minchella won’t take to the field on Friday night, he will still be there in the coach’s box and be in and around the team this week and Peters has spoken about what impact the influential loose forward will have.
“Yeah so we always get the non-starters to run plays like the opposition team and so he’s played a key role in that this week. Obviously having Elliot in that team meant there was a lot of positivity around the way they played because he certainly brings that.
“He’s got a different challenge this week as a leader. As a leader, you always come up with new challenges and they’re always evolving. I think Elliot this week presents a new challenge for him of how to get the best out of his teammates.”
Minchella has been lauded all season as a talismanic figure for Hull KR and that has seen him earn his first England call-up and be named to the Super League Dream Team. Taking the step back and leading off the field is his task this week and it’s one Peters has backed him to succeed at.
“He certainly can do that when he’s in and amongst it, but now it’s a way of asking ‘So, if I’m not playing, how can I get the best out of my teammates?’ Because he’s still our captain, obviously, Batch will be the on-field captain this week but for Elliot that’s getting around to individuals and the input that he has or hasn’t had.
“I think it’s been great for his leadership, it’s just a different approach and a different angle of how to be a leader.”
