Hull KR are in the market for a half-back following the loan deal of last season’s early Man of Steel front-runner Jordan Abdull to Catalans Dragons.
Abdull’s departure means the only senior half-backs at the club are former Catalans man Tyrone May, who Rovers signed this off-season, and rising star Mikey Lewis.
Rovers do have a number of position-versatile players such as Kiwi recruit Peta Hiku who Willie Peters has confirmed would be the club’s back-up half at present, but they’re in the market for a more permanent solution.
That saw reports that they had made a move for Wakefield Trinity’s Luke Gale, something that Peters denied when speaking to Serious About Rugby League last week.
Asked if an offer was made, Peters’ response was simple: “No, it wasn’t.”
He continued by stating that Gale was a player that Hull KR would be of interest if he were available, however, he referenced Trinity’s unwillingness to let the former Man of Steel go.
He explained: “Oh, we’d be interested in any experienced player but obviously Luke’s at Wakefield and I don’t think they’re going to let him out so we won’t explore that one.”
“Nothing to tell at this stage” – Willie Peters provides update on half-back search
Loaning Jordan Abdull away has left the Robins thin in the half-back room. – Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com
With the season now less than two weeks away from opening up, the first clash set to see Hull KR travel across the city to face rivals Hull FC, the question of who and how Rovers will fill their vacant shirt was asked again.
Peters once again played it with a straight bat, simply stating: “There’s nothing to tell at this stage. It’s one of those, I think where obviously we’re going to get linked to certain players and names are going to get tossed up.
“I think it’s one of those where hopefully when we’ve got something to give, then we’ll be able to give to our fans and let everyone know.”
In last weekend’s loss to Sheffield Eagles, young hooker Lennie Ellis played in the halves alongside versatile back Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, but Peters will certainly want more experience in his back-up role.
The former half revealed that it will be a case of waiting for a situation at another club to develop, at which point the Robins could pounce.
“As I said before, it’s a difficult situation because players are locked into contracts and I think we need to see things unfold,” stated Peters.
“It’ll be where a club might not think a player is suited to them or vice versa and then they’re happy to let the player go. But until that happens, there’s nothing that we can do at the moment.”
Hull KR lock in goal kicker for 2024
New Hull KR signing Peta Hiku has won the goal-kicking role left vacant by Brad Schneider. – Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
One of the jobs that many half-backs take on is the role of goal-kicking, something that Hull KR were less than perfect at in 2023.
To start the season Lachlan Coote took to the tee but after his injury and later retirement, the club tried a number of options, the eventual answer being Brad Schneider.
The Australian’s move to Penrith Panthers once again leaves them without a clear first-choice kicker but Willie Peters confirmed that the club had decided on a number one, and very close number two, for the upcoming season.
He revealed: “We’re going to go with Peta Hiku. He’ll goal kick. So him and James Batchelor were probably the last two standing that were sort of neck and neck. At the moment, we’re going to go with Peta and see how that goes. But we’ve got some capable backup kickers, as I said, Batchelor’s, he’ll be ready to go as well.
“Now it’s about just seeing how Peta does it in games and under pressure. And then, as I said to Batch, I’m sure that he’ll have the opportunity and we need to have a backup kicker, but Batch will kick at some stage. It’s just a matter of when.”
