Hull KR can be play-off contenders, says Crooks

Ben Crooks believes Hull Kingston Rovers have the potential to challenge for play-offs should they contenders for the remainder of the 2020 Betfred Super League season.

After starting the season with a win over Wakefield, the Robins suffered five consecutive defeats before the Covid-19 suspension, with Toronto’s withdrawal from Super League seeing them now sit bottom of the table.

Despite their poor form, though, Crooks is currently the competition’s top try-scorer and insists his side are more than capable of turning their form around.

“There is no reason why the club are unable to bounce back and, possibly, become play-off contenders,” he said. “I think any club coming back into the season will set such sights.

“These have been very unprecedented times. Everyone has only played a handful of games in the season then missed five months before coming back.

“It is a fresh start for everyone and people can change their outlook from what their hopes were at the start of the season to what they are now.

“We will do the best we can and should we go out and play to the standards that we set ourselves then we could very well be up there contending just like everyone else.”

Crooks’ experience of lockdown was mixed; he was desperate to return to training but was also pleased to have time off to recover from a neck injury suffered in KR’s Round 5 game against Castleford.

He’s now back to full fitness and insists he and his teammates are raring to go ahead of their game against Warrington on Saturday.

He added: “The pandemic has been a blessing in disguise for me personally. Of course it is terrible what has happened around the world and the sooner we get back to normality the better, but the time off has benefitted players with injuries and I am no different.

“I was told back in March I would miss most of this season but instead I’ve missed just one Super League match plus our Challenge Cup win over Leigh. Now, I am fit and raring to go and can hopefully continue as top try-scorer too.

“As much as I said I have loved time at home, the camaraderie I have with the lads has been sorely missed. Since coming back it has been fantastic, sharing a few laughs and getting back to work with them, albeit through the current protocols.

“However, this is something that has to be done for the good of the sport and it is great to see everyone buying into it as best as we can. We are now just gearing up for our first game against Warrington, where we can hopefully return to winning ways.”