Kenny-Dowall calls for Exiles return

New Hull KR recruit Shaun Kenny-Dowall has called for the Exiles International Origin match to return in 2020 labelling it ‘a great concept’.

England played the Exiles over three consecutive years from 2011 to 2013 and the annual mid-season Test Series was on the whole very closely contested.

Made up of all the overseas players in Super League, an Exiles team of 2020 would surely be the strongest yet with the likes of James Maloney and Sonny Bill Williams recently joining the competition.

Kenny-Dowall, who has 21 caps for New Zealand, is another to add to that list and as he addressed the media for the first time in East Hull, the Kiwi centre was very supportive of a potential Exiles return.

“I think it’s a great concept,” he said. “I’ve heard it was great success here before when it was there for a number of years.

“To bring together a number of expats against Great Britain or England I think it’s a great idea. It puts fans on seats and with the calibre of players we have, it would be a great challenge.”

A former Premiership winner with the Roosters, Kenny-Dowall is arguably Hull KR’s biggest signing of the off-season having averaged almost a try every other game in the NRL.

While recognising he will have to adapt his game to the English style, the 31-year-old seems unfazed by the prospect of playing on the other side of the world.

“I think it (Super League) is definitely a different league, a different style which is very open and free-flowing,” he said.

“It’s very appealing for players like me to come over and challenge myself in a different environment.

“Yes it’s a different league and a different style of game but I’m looking forward to giving it my best week by week.”

Kenny-Dowall will likely make his Super League debut for the Robins when they host Wakefield Trinity at Hull College Craven Park on Friday, January 31.