The Yorkshire Post's rugby league writer James O'Brien looks ahead to Hull Kingston Rovers 2025 campaign in Super League, picking out reasons for optimism, areas of concern, key players and a predicted finish
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00:00There are plenty, obviously, fresh from reaching the first-round final. They've signed well.
00:18They've signed two really experienced winners. They've got strong mentalities, you'd say
00:24winning mentalities in Gerrard Wirre, Harry Greaves and Michael McElroy. They add a steely
00:30edge to the pack as well. They could be the guys just to give Hulk AR that extra push,
00:35get them over the line and make them believe that they can take that next step. You've got
00:38Rhys Martin from Leeds Rhinos, a goal-kicking back-rower. He's only played one game and he
00:44showed his all-round value that Leeds will miss that Hulk AR game this season. I think he could
00:51be the signing this season across the whole competition. The one area of concern with Hulk
01:00AR is probably that they get into these big games but they're just falling short. They
01:06lost out by a point against Lee in Golden Point in the Challenge Cup final two years ago
01:10last season against Wigan. They failed to score a try, albeit against a very good side
01:16who won all four trophies. That's probably the big concern with Hulk AR. They've got a lot of
01:23hard work to get to one of those games but once they get there, there'll be question marks about
01:27whether they can take that next step. That brings with it a lot of pressure. That's where these
01:32experienced guys can come in. It's going to take a lot for them to get over the line. It's the 40th
01:38anniversary this year of their last trophy success. That's a lot of weight on their shoulders. It's
01:44whether they can put that to the side and focus on the task at hand on the big day. It's easier
01:50said than done. A really boring answer would be Mikey Lewis, who's the current Man of Steel. I
01:58just think Rhys Martin coming in in that back row runs great lines as a back row. He'll score
02:07plenty of tries and he's goal-kicking as well. That could be the difference for Hulk AR. They've
02:12finished so close to Wigan last year. They missed out in that decider towards the end of the season
02:20but they left a lot of points out there. They lost close games because of the goal-kicking.
02:26That's where Rhys Martin can make the difference and turn those losses into wins. That could get
02:31them over the line in the league, get the league leaders shield. That would make them avoid that
02:36big day where they have to go to Wembley or Old Trafford and win their first trophy for a long
02:41time. If they got over the line in the league leaders shield, that would make those big occasions
02:46a little bit easier, I think.
02:51Well, Rovers fans probably won't forgive me but I've tipped them to finish top.
02:56That's probably the kiss of death but I do think they are. If they do win a trophy, I think the
03:02first one will be the league leaders shield. Over the course of the season, they showed
03:06the consistency last year. They just missed out in that big game at the end at Wigan.
03:12They lost that themselves, probably. They'd be honest and say that they've got two men
03:18simbing when they're in control. If they'd won that game, they'd have won the league leaders
03:21shield. We'd be talking about whether they can win more trophies this year but, yes,
03:25if they get over the line in that, which I think they will do, then some good times are ahead for
03:31Hawkeye.