What was to blame for Hull KR missing the playoffs? Star player reveals all

Hull KR followed up one of their best Super League seasons in 2021 with a rather drab 2022 in a campaign that saw them miss the playoffs and fall short at the semi-final stage in the Challenge Cup.

Heading into 2023 under new coaching, a new chairman and with new ambitions they’re out to rectify their lack of silverware, something that star winger Ryan Hall has said ahead of the season, as reported earlier here.

Hall is one of the senior players at Craven Park for Hull Kingston Rovers and he’s also one of just a handful that has lifted silverware with the veteran winger being immensely successful at Leeds Rhinos previously.

He will now head into his third season with KR where his form has been at a level that he retained his England shirt for the 2021 World Cup despite turning 35 just days after the tournament concluded.

Speaking to Betfred, on their Youtube channel, Hall explained that there were reasons as to why the team failed to make the playoffs last season as he discussed the depth of the competition.

“Teams are getting better, top teams will always be there and the perceived lower teams are always pushing. My first year here we surprised a lot of people because we really went for it and we got in that six, something I feel our squad is capable of doing.

“Last year we didn’t achieve that, we had ridiculous injury concerns so we kind of blame that a little bit. But this year there’s no excuses, we want to be in the top six. I’d say even more than that really, we experienced a couple of years ago (2021 playoff semi-final) and we want to get back there and achieve something.”

Asked outright ‘what a successful 2023’ would look like for Rovers, Hall responded boldly.

“Finish within the top four, enter the playoffs healthy where we can pick a team and bring something home. Something shiny to go on the shelf.”