1. Kieran Dixon
2. Ben Cockayne
3. Darrel Goulding
4. Josh Mantellato
5. Ken Sio
6. Maurice Blair
7. Albert Kelly
8. Adam Walker
9. Keal Carlile
10. Mick Weyman
11. Kevin Larroyer
12. Graeme Horne
13. Tyrone McCarthy
14. Mitchell Allgood
15. James Donaldson
16. Ryan Bailey
17. Greg Burke
18. Liam Salter
19. Kris Welham
20. James Green
21. Aaron Ollett
22. Jordan Cox
23. Terry Campese
24. John Boudebza
25. Macauley Hallett
26. Sonny Esslemont
27. Josh Guzdek
28. Connor Robinson
29. Matty Marsh
30. Steven Holker

Oh dear, not one academy graduate given a number in the first 17.

There are loads of academy graduates in the first 17. Just none of them from Rovers.

Still bothering you is it there's 11 in the squad if that makes you feel better

Don't feed the troll.

You do understand the concept of squad numbers and that they bare no relation to selection right??????

Looking at the squad, there Is a fair bit of depth in most positions, with only hooker looking on the weak side.
I'm a fair bit more optimistic than I was a few months ago, and really looking forward to the new season.
As for a few of the academy lads, it's up to them and the coaching they get if they want to make it this season. I can see a breakthrough for a couple of them this year tho.

How many will play 15+ games?

Cop out answer.

Cox and green are regular members of the squad particularly green and both have squad numbers in the 20's, (ex players numbers like Vella and Chester have been cited before as reasons) will that do for you????

I preferred it when the FC fans used to go on about crowds. Oh hang on, their crowds are down 3,000 in 3 years.
I preferred it when the FC fans used to go on about league position. Oh hang on, their big top 4 club could only manage 11th.
I preferred it when the FC fans used to go on about trophies. Oh hang on, they haven't won anything in years.

1865 should stick to his own forum and worry more about what the Allams are going to do next.
He could even try and find out why they have had to move from YPI and used the U19s as cheap
labour to try and get county road finished in time. I don't ever feel the need to comment on the FC forum.

G'Day, I am new to this forum and am new to Super league. I may well be the newest Hull KR fan. I do have a dumb question. These numbers that the players are given, are they the numbers that they will play in all year. eg, If number 26 is chosen in the starting team in round 5, will he wear number 26?

Yes, in the ESL squad numbers are given for the year. Think it was used to increase shirt sales etc, if your a fan of say Dixon and you buy a shirt with Dixon 1 on it then he'll wear 1 regardless of if he plays wing or fullback.

Why does it bother you so much?

I love this line.

The forum names are an indication of the topic of discussion you can expect, in this case the topic up for discussion is Hull KR. 1865 is talking about Hull KR, your the one bringing up Hull FC

. The forum names don't mean only fans of that club can write on there

Thanks for that, I can see how it would work from a marketing perspective. I'm sure there will be other little differences between the ESL & NRL that I will have to get used to. Cheers.

Quite correct.

So, 2...possibly?

Great argument.

The question should be why does it [inot[/i bother you?

Ok then, players we have who will play a number of games (10+) I would reckon Cox, Green, Welham, Salter, Ollett and Robinson.

Hallet looks a real talent, hopefully he'll get some time in the team this year and Esslemont and Gudzek will also play a handful of games.

A lot of this will depend on form of themselves and others in the team but in all likelihood I don't think it'll be far wrong.

If we're comparing ourselves to your team which is no doubt the angle you're taking then when was the last double winner or for that matter title winner that came through your academy, so yes we are producing, but we need to look to hang on to them a bit better.

Let's see who's system works the best this season. I am more interested in success. If that comes on the back of giving young local lads a chance, all the better. But only finishing 11th but being able to brag about blooding x amount of local youngsters is not my bag. I would settle for a top two finish or a cup over how many local youngsters we have any day of the week.

I know squad numbers have to be given and they may be irrelevant to how we line-up, however if the squad numbers are Chessy's current thinking for the team, it does throw up a few really interesting ones:

Dixon at Fullback - He could be devastating in broken play, but does he have the defensive and organisation skills to play there?
Blair at Standoff - He seems to be the incumbent, although Chester has said that it may change when Campese comes over. Competition in the halves is good, but a settled pairing ASAP is my preference.
Even if Blair is at standoff, no place for Welham at centre - As much as he may be training the house down, he will have to play himself into the team which can only be a good thing.
The pack lines up as expected, however I had assumed that Burke or Donaldson would play loose forward rather than McCarthy. Again the pack is interchangeable based on form and injuries, but that choice seems interesting.

Even though I think it will be a real struggle to make the 8 this year, I am missing rugby and am looking forward to next season.

yet still have larger fan base then you, also get bigger gates on a regular basis.


neither clubs have had anything to boast about in the League over passed few seasons.


yet won more trophies then you in the past 20+ years

so even though we've been going through a lot of upheaval and transitions, you're still out done by the black and white army

Isn't the point though that no side in the last 10 years has achieved what you say you'd settle for above, without bringing quality youth through to the first team? It's been dominated by Wigan, Saints & Leeds.

Sides need to make the most out of the cap, and home-grown players are a lot cheaper than a player of similar quality brought in from Aus or even another SL club. That's the reason academies are so important in a league with a salary cap.

Those teams wised up to it years ago. Huddersfield and Warrington have woken up in the last few seasons. Cas have a great record too, placing an emphasis on youth too, albeit I imagine they're working to a lower cap level than the others.

It's time both clubs sorted themselves out.