Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has given his verdict on the club’s four debutants after a record 104-0 win to start their defence of the Challenge Cup.
The Robins were the only Super League side to draw a community club in the third round and that gulf in class was evident with Hull KR running in 18 tries, including three for each of Jack Broadbent and debutant Harvey Horne.
Horne, who has spent time on loan in the Championship, was one of four players making his competitive debut for Hull KR with head coach Willie Peters giving his verdict on the quartet post-match.
“I thought they all did well,” he said of Horne, Karl Lawton, Tom Whitehead and Jack Charles, with all playing key roles as other senior figures such as Joe Burgess, Jez Litten, Tom Amone and Mikey Lewis all missed out.
On hat-trick hero Horne, Peters said: “Harvey Horne on his senior debut, which was a big occasion for him and his family, and I thought every time he carried the ball, he carried with intent.
“He had a couple of errors but that’s part of his learning and development so what we look at is how hard he runs and the choices that he makes, and I thought he made some good choices tonight.”
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One of those who came in for strong praise was NRL recruit Karl Lawton who is already showing his value having played two positions against Lock Lane, after featuring in the second-row against Wakefield Trinity in pre-season.
That’s something that Willie Peters highlighted, stating: “Karl Lawton is going to be a really valuable player for us. He can play a number of positions. He started at hooker and then played at 13.”
As for the pair of Whitehead and Charles, signed from Warrington and Hull FC respectively, they too came in for praise with both men bagging a try on debut, the latter scoring a brace.
Peters said: “Tom Whitehead was strong, we played him at prop through the middle. He can ball play but we wanted him to keep it nice and simple.
“I thought Jack Charles had some nice touches in that second half. We wanted to simplify his role a little bit. He’s been playing on the ball most of the pre-season but we thought that simplifying his role tonight would help him and it did.”
Hull KR will now turn their attention to Thursday and their Super League opener against York Knights before they quickly shift focus to the World Club Challenge, with Brisbane Broncos their opponents for Thursday, 19th February.
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