T’Other Side: Hull Kingston Rovers

T’Other Side: Hull Kingston Rovers

Head Coach: Tim Sheens

It is hard to imagine any coach in Rugby League who has a more glittering CV than Tim Sheens. After playing his entire career as a forward with Penrith Panthers he became their head coach in 1984. After three years he moved on to Canberra Raiders and led them to becoming NRL Champions three times. He spent four seasons developing North Queensland Cowboys at the beginning of their NRL involvement before taking over at Wests Tigers and again leading them to winning the NRL. He has also coached New South Wales in an Origin series. As Australian National Coach he was in charge for two Four Nations wins and the 2013 World Cup.

In 2016 he was named in the Penrith Panthers Team of Legends.

Captain: Shaun Lunt

Having begun his playing career with Castleford Tigers in 2005, he moved on for a three year spell with Workington Town. Then he joined Huddersfield Giants in Super League and was their regular hooker for several years. He moved to Leeds Rhinos on loan during the 2012 season and was a member of their Grand Final winning team. He joined Hull Kingston Rovers in 2015. Art representative level Shaun has played for Cumbria, England and England Knights.

At the back

Andrew Heffernan has already scored 14 tries this year making Hull KR’s joint top try scorer. He is an Australian and was signed for this season from Penrith Panthers. So far this year he has played regularly at centre but can play in any of the back positions. Thomas Minns is a product of the Leeds Rhinos Academy. In 2013 he played for the first team three times and also for the England Academy team. He spent 2014 on loan at London Broncos and 2015 at Featherstone before becoming a Hull Kingston Rovers player in 2016. Winger Ryan Shaw is the other joint try scorer. He has also played for England Academy and at club level he has appeared for Barrow, Leigh, London Broncos and Bradford before joining Hull KR last year.

In the Halves

Jordan Abdull is currently at Hull KR on loan from Hull FC. He is a stand-off and is the only ever present so far this season. He is yet another former England Academy player and has had previous loan spells with Doncaster and Featherstone. Zach Dockar-Clay, who can play at either halfback or hooker, was signed at the end of March from Penrith Panthers and is a former captain of the Junior Kiwis. Jamie Ellis is on a season long loan from Huddersfield Giants and is KR’s main goal kicker with a remarkable record this season of 96 goals from 110 attempts. If Jamie Ellis is not available to kick then the duties fall to Zach Dockar-Clay who has also been very successful with 8 out of 9.

In the Pack

Aussie, Maurice Blair, joined Hull KR in 2015 from Gold Coast Titans. He has played over 100 NRL matches for Penrith Panthers, Melbourne Storm and the Titans. At representative level he has played for the Australian Aborigines and the Australian Prime Minister’s XIII. At prop forward Rob Mulhern has become a regular (usually coming off the bench). He started at Leeds in 2014 and played for Hunslet in 2015 under dual-reg. In 2016 he joined Hull KR. He is an Ireland international. Hugely experienced prop, Nick Scruton, joined Hull KR this year from Wakefield. Before joining Wakefield he played for Leeds and then Bradford and is an England international. He has, so far, made 295 career appearances so a landmark is coming soon.

The Fev Connection

Three members of the Hull Kingston Rovers squad have previously appeared for Fev. Ben Cockayne had a very successful loan spell with us in 2011 scoring 11 tries in 9 matches and played in the Grand Final winning team. Thomas Minns spent 2015 at Fev and scored four tries in a match against Sheffield Eagles. Last year Jordan Abdull played 5 times during a short loan spell from Hull FC.

There are two members of the Hull KR squad who have fathers who played for Fev. Chris Clarkson’s dad, Micky Clarkson, played 63 games for us between 1998 and 2001. Mitchell Clark is the son of much loved former Featherstone hooker, Trevor Clark who is a New Zealander and played 125 games for Fev between 1998 and 1992.

There are also three members of the current Fev squad who have played for Hull KR. Ian Hardman spent a year there, on loan from Saint Helens, in 2007. Keal Carlile was a Hull KR player from 2012-2015 and Frankie Mariano was there at the start of his career in 2009 and 2010.