Karl Lawton has joined Hull KR ahead of the 2026 Super League season and the move makes a lot of sense for Willie Peters’ side.
Karl Lawton is the latest addition to Hull KR’s squad for the 2026 season, bringing much-needed versatility to the Robins’ line-up.
The arrival of Lawton has been warmly received by Willie Peters and appears to be a shrewd move. There are several encouraging signs; notably, the reluctance of North Queensland Cowboys to let him go, along with his age and experience, all suggest that Rovers have secured a valuable player.
Importantly, this move makes strategic sense. While replacements have been found for other players leaving the 2025 squad, the retirement of veteran hooker Micky McIlorum had left a gap.
The potential risk of being caught short, especially if Jez Litten were to sustain a long-term injury, was a real concern.
However, with Lawton on board, who is an experienced and capable hooker, this worry seems to have been alleviated. Of course, there’s also Bill Leyland to consider.
His playing time may now be somewhat reduced, and Rovers will need to ensure a robust plan for his development. But in the event of an injury to Litten, relying solely on Leyland without any other clear hooking options in the squad would have been a significant challenge.
However, Lawton’s versatility is a significant advantage, particularly his ability to play in the back-row. This provides cover for the position left vacant by Kelepi Tanginoa’s departure.
Rovers didn’t require a specialist back-rower as a replacement; they already have James Batchelor, Dean Hadley and Rhyse Martin, with Jai Whitbread proving his worth in that role as well. But Lawton does provide the cover they lost with Tanginoa.
Overall, this simply gives Rovers a better balance within their squad. While losing Tanginoa does mean they lose an attacking option on the edge, it must be noted that he wasn’t in the team for the final rounds of the season, such is the quality already at Peters’ disposal.