Many teams like Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Warrington Wolves and Hull FC have made big signings for 2024 but one club who has made more than a few statement signings have been Hull KR.
They are now set to complete another signing in the shape of Jai Whitbread. This comes following Wakefield Trinity’s relegation in 2023.
This did mean that the club had to consider which quota player has to be released and it seemed that it would likely be Rhys Kennedy.
The club have now confirmed this with the following statement:
“Hull KR can confirm prop forward, Rhys Kennedy has departed the club after being released from the final year of his contract.
“Kennedy joined the Robins from Brisbane Broncos in the off-season and has gone on to make 26 appearances for the side in 2023.”
Hull KR Head Coach, Willie Peters paid tribute to the departing forward: ‘On behalf of the club, I want to thank Rhys for his contribution to Hull KR this season. We wish him all the best for the future along with his partner, Jordynne.’
This comes after the club announced that Tom Opacic had signed an extension.
Opacic has signed a new two-year extension with the club, keeping the Australian centre at Sewell Group Craven Park until the end of the 2026 season.
Fresh off an impressive debut season for Hull KR, Tom has put pen to paper and confirmed his longterm future in East Hull with Willie Peters’ Robins.
The Redcliffe native has made 30 appearances in Red and White this season, scoring nine tries with three assists while forming a formidable partnership with second-rower, James Batchelor on the Robins’ right edge.
Having originally joined the club from Parramatta Eels, the 29 year-old has been a mainstay in Peters’ side this season, registering 69 tackle busts for an average carry of 7.66 metres while making 1,776 metres overall in his debut Super League season.
Speaking to hullkr.co.uk on his new extension, Opacic was delighted to put pen to paper and commit to Hull KR until the end of 2026: ‘When that opportunity came up (for the extension), I grabbed it with both hands.
While the Robins made the Challenge Cup Final and the Play-Off Semi-Finals, Opacic has outlined silverware as the next step in the club’s progression: ’Our goal this year was to get that top 4 Super League finish. We achieved that and also made the Cup final at Wembley.
‘We’ll now set our sights on getting back to Wembley next year and securing a top 2 finish in Super League next year.’
Reacting to Opacic’s new extension, Hull KR Head Coach, Willie Peters said: ‘We’re really pleased to see Tom extend. He’s been extremely consistent this year. I knew we’d be bringing over a consistent centre.
Tom’s was known as a defensively strong centre in the NRL, I think he’s proven that here and he’s managed to find the line too.
I think Tom’s best years are ahead of him. He’s only 29 and to have him keep improving is exciting.’
