Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has confirmed that full-back Arthur Mourgue could return this weekend when the Robins face off against Wakefield Trinity.
The Robins will be back at Craven Park for Saturday’s game against Trinity and they’ll likely need that home support in what is expected to be a very tough game so the return of a player such as Mourgue could be massive.
Offering an injury update during his weekly presser on Wednesday, Peters confirmed that Rovers had not sustained any fresh injuries from Magic Weekend with all eyes now on whether Mourgue passes a fitness test.
“We’re just waiting. Arthur needs to do a fitness test whether he’s going to play,” he confirmed.
“He did full training then, which was positive. It’s just whether he can play this week or he can’t, we’ll look at that later on in the week.”
Mourgue is recovering from a pec injury with the Frenchman first rupturing his pectoral muscle in the World Club Challenge win against Brisbane Broncos, before then suffering a similar but less severe injury in the win over Leigh Leopards in May.
As a result, Peters has admitted that the club will have to be careful, explaining: “He’s had some unlucky injuries this year, obviously doing it twice. We’ve just got to make sure that he’s right to go. As I said, he just did full training, he looks sharp as, which is positive.
“We’ve got to be very careful. He’ll be with the medical team and essentially, Arthur’s the one that (decides) from a confidence point of view, so, you know, we just need to make sure that he’s okay.”
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Hull KR boss explains Dean Hadley situation
Whilst Mourgue could return this weekend, forward Dean Hadley will not as he remains stood down after the HIA he failed against Leeds Rhinos.
That had been the second failed HIA for Hadley inside a month, something that prompted a more stringent return to play protocol and Peters has admitted that the issue is still with the medical staff.
“Dean Hadley won’t play this week, but hopeful that we’ll be able to get him back soon,” he confirmed.
As for when ‘soon’ could be, Peters added:”I’m not sure, it’s still with the medical staff, possibly next week.
“We’ve just got to, as I said, get through a couple of things. He definitely won’t play this week, so possibly we’re looking at a return in the near future. That’s all I can say at the moment.”
Two players who could return are Sam Luckley (hamstring) and Joe Burgess (shoulder) but like Mourgue, both men have to get through the captain’s run later in the week.
On the duo, Peters said: “There’s a chance they’ll return, but they need to get through the back end of the week as well. We’re hopeful they’ll return. As I said, it looks positive, but they’re not at a fitness test stage. It’s more just getting through a captain’s run.”
