Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 1:09 pm  

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 2lfcx.html Terence Campese has been named captain of the Hull KR, leading an impressive NRL contingent that includes the likes of Albert Kelly, Maurice Blair, Kenneth Sio, Joshua Mantellato, Michael Weyman and Mitchell Allgood. Added to that contingent is the impressive French backrower Kevin Larroyer. Campese is a creative stand off, and the perfect complement to the mercurial Albert Kelly. Can Hull KR now put pressure on the likely Big Four of 2015: St Helens, Wigan, Warrington and Catalans?

http://www.smh.com.au/rugby-league/leag ... 2lfcx.html Terence Campese has been named captain of the Hull KR, leading an impressive NRL contingent that includes the likes of Albert Kelly, Maurice Blair, Kenneth Sio, Joshua Mantellato, Michael Weyman and Mitchell Allgood. Added to that contingent is the impressive French backrower Kevin Larroyer. Campese is a creative stand off, and the perfect complement to the mercurial Albert Kelly. Can Hull KR now put pressure on the likely Big Four of 2015: St Helens, Wigan, Warrington and Catalans?

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 1:22 pm  

They'll certainly challenge the top 4 from the Championship.

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 1:22 pm  

I'm a KR fan. And in a word. No.

If we can keep our 17 as fit as possible we can absolutely fly under the radar and hit 6th. If injuries start to bite our young players although very good do not have enough top level experience yet. This group of players need a season together to form a nucleus of a team and with some quality added and the youngsters a year older in 2016 that could be the season to kick on.

I do believe we will produce some big upsets this year, however do not have the consistency to perform at top 4 intensity week in week out yet. Rome was not built in a day my friend, but the overall of the squad this year has set some pretty exciting foundations.

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 1:47 pm  

LeedsDave wrote:

They'll certainly challenge the top 4 from the Championship.

Beat me too it.

Do you honestly believe some of what you write Jean or are you just being deliberately provocative? 8th is a good season for Rovers, 4th is a miracle.

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 2:05 pm  

Are you for real jean I have watched hull KR for over 50 yrs now and I would not agree with you, what I will say is they are possible the best we have had in super league and if we keep fit maybe we can hit 6th but that is the key keeping fit and hoping Chester our coach learns how to be a first team coach has well

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 2:12 pm  

No Hull KR won't threaten the top 4. That's not being disrectful to Hull KR it's just not the position they're in.
Hull KR's aim in the short to medium term would be, I would imagine, to be able to stay in that 6th to 10th area whilst building the club off the pitch and becoming less reliant on Neil Hudgell's benevolence.
They've made great strides on the pitch since being promoted, it'll take an equal if not larger effort to make similar strides off the pitch.

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 2:41 pm  

Aside from the rather standard attention seeking nature of the OP, I'm glad this thread came up because Hull KR are the team I'll be keeping a keen eye on this season. I don't think they'll be the big improvers of Super League in 2015, but I'm fascinated to see how all the various signings come together, particularly Terry Campese, Kieran Dixon, Ryan Bailey and James Donaldson (as he is a former Bull, I hope James can finally kick on).

I could never warm to Rervers before, probably down to the miserable Sandercock, but this season I'll be watching intently.

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 5:17 pm  

Hull KR have made some good/interesting signings but they will have to hope for a real quick geling of the side to trouble the top end and with so many new faces that is hard to see happening. it may take a while before they get into their stride fully but i think when they do they will be a tough match for the top sides.Top 4 not a chance in my opinion, but they should be right in the mix for the 8.

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 5:39 pm  

Mr. Zucchini Head wrote:

Do you honestly believe some of what you write Jean or are you just being deliberately provocative? 8th is a good season for Rovers, 4th is a miracle.

I definitely believe some of what I write. In fact I believe all of what I write.

Biff Tannen wrote:

Hull KR have made some good/interesting signings but they will have to hope for a real quick geling of the side to trouble the top end and with so many new faces that is hard to see happening. it may take a while before they get into their stride fully but i think when they do they will be a tough match for the top sides.Top 4 not a chance in my opinion, but they should be right in the mix for the 8.

Top 8 should be the minimum objective for this team. Injuries are a potential factor for every team. So for Hull KR to exceed that minimum objective, they have to keep their key players (whom I would identify as Campese, Kelly, Sio, goal kicker Mantellato, Weyman, Allgood and Larroyer) fit for most of the season. Then they would also have to count on one or more of the more highly rated teams to suffer injuries to crucial players. That is the formula whereby they could threaten one of the top 4.

I want to add my expression of admiration for Christopher Chester in assembling such a talented group of imports. Catalans may turn out to have bought a single more devastating player in Todd Carney (if he can reach his best form), but the group Chester has assembled is, as a group, the best combination of NRL talents I have seen introduced at one Super League club in one year.

Re: Campese to captain Hull KR. Are the Big Four threatened? : Tue Jan 13, 2015 6:02 pm  

JEAN CAPDOUZE wrote:

Top 8 should be the minimum objective for this team. Injuries are a potential factor for every team. So for Hull KR to exceed that minimum objective, they have to keep their key players (whom I would identify as Campese, Kelly, Sio, goal kicker Mantellato, Weyman, Allgood and Larroyer) fit for most of the season. Then they would also have to count on one or more of the more highly rated teams to suffer injuries to crucial players. That is the formula whereby they could threaten one of the top 4.

I want to add my expression of admiration for Christopher Chester in assembling such a talented group of imports. Catalans may turn out to have bought a single more devastating player in Todd Carney (if he can reach his best form), but the group Chester has assembled is, as a group, the best combination of talents I have seen introduced at one club in one year.

I am a Hull FC fan, so I am always going to be biased to us and a little against Rovers. I think Hull will finish 7th or 8th, but if everything goes our way we might scrape 6th. So basically we are an average team, and yet imo KR's squad is inferior even to ours.

These are the likely first choice 17's for both teams.

1. Dixon v Shaul
2. Mantellato v Lineham
3. Goulding v Sa
4. Blair v Michaels
5. Sio v Talanoa

6. Campese v Pryce
7. Kelly v Sneyd

8. Bailey v Paea
9. Carlile v Houghton
10. Weyman v Green
11. Laroyer v Ellis
12. Horne v Minichiello
13. Burke v Westerman

14. Walker v Feka
15. Allgood v Bowden
16. Green v Watts
17. Donaldson v Thompson

None of KR's back line is better than their Hull counterpart imo. Sio and Blair are roughly on a par with Michaels and Talanoa, but Hulls right edge is far stronger and Hull arguably have 2 full backs as good as or better than Dixon (Shaul and Rankin). Naughton looks a real prospect too.

Rovers halves are better on paper. But you have to take into account the fact neither have played over here. Loads of NRL halves have come over with good reputations and not performed. At least in Sneyd and particularly Pryce we have guys who have done it over here.

Rovers props are pretty good. I think James Green could become a real star, Adam Walker is a good prop as is Mitch Allgood. Bailey and Weyman are ok, nothing more. They just shade it here, but they have nothing at hooker, and Hull's back row is miles ahead.

Compare their side with Salford and even Cas and they don't come out favourably. The other top sides are way ahead right across the park.