Hull KR captain opens up on standards and expectations as dressing-room talks shared.
Hull KR take on York Knights tonight in Super League.
Hull KR skipper Elliot Minchella admits there have been “honest conversations” behind closed doors as the Robins look to bounce back from a difficult spell against York Knights this weekend.
Rovers’ seven-match winning streak was ended in dramatic fashion by Wakefield Trinity, who snatched a last-gasp victory just a week after Hull KR were crushed 40-10 in the Challenge Cup final.
The setback saw Wakefield leapfrog Hull KR in the Super League table, piling further pressure on Willie Peters’ side as they seek an immediate response on home soil.
Despite the recent setbacks, captain Minchella insists there is no sense of panic within the camp.
“We’ve addressed some things, had some honest conversations like usual and we’ve moved on after that Wakefield defeat,” said captain Minchella.
“There’s no panic or anything like that, but there’s definitely been some honest conversations, with standards and expectations laid out and we’re trying to stride for them.”
Hull KR have won eight of their 12 Super League matches and face a crucial run of fixtures against Leigh Leopards and Leeds Rhinos over the coming weeks.
Looking back on the campaign so far, Minchella admitted the Robins have yet to hit the heights they expected.
“It’s been a mixture,” he said. “We’re probably not where we want to be, and it was disappointing to lose the Challenge Cup final. We want to be a bit higher up the table, so I guess we’ve got work to do – but we’ll run towards that, not away from it.
“We’ll see what we’re made of, and I’m looking forward to it.”
New recruit Tevita Pangai Junior is in line to make his highly anticipated debut, although Sauaso Sue will miss out through suspension.
Pangai Jnr has overcome a calf injury and is expected to feature for the first time since returning to Super League following a spell in French rugby union.
“He’s brought some size,” Minchella said of his new team-mate.
“He’s a big boy in the middle and I’m looking forward to playing with him on Friday night.
“We played against him last year and he’s more than a handful, and he can be a big, aggressive impact player.
“When you pull the shirt on, you join a special group of players and previous players that have represented this club, so I’m looking forward to getting out there with him.”