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RECORD NUMBER OF YOUNG ROBINS SIGN FIRST PRO DEALS
Wednesday 21st July 2010
Jordan Milner , Sonny Esslemont, Matthew Beharrell (all Holderness Vikings), Danny Kelso, Josh O'Neill (both East Hull), Ryan Hart (Featherstone Lions), Lewis Farr (Lock Lane) Craig Smith and Callum Tolson (both Drighlington) put pen-to-paper on their first professional deals alongside Head Coach Justin Morgan at Craven Park last week.
The youngsters- five of who were already on the club's scholarship programme- will now target a place in the club's Academy sides as they take the next step on the pathway to becoming a Super League player.
Rovers beat off competition from other Super League club's for the signatures of the highly promising youngsters, casting the net outside the city limits to snare talent from Castleford and further afield.
Smith and Tolson have both been signed from the same amateur club that nurtured current first team player Scott Murrell, who has since gone onto make over 100 appearances for the red and whites.
Head of Youth Development, Martin Dunn, said the record number of signings shows the appeal of Hull KR is growing stronger each year.
He said: "As a youth system we are still in our infancy when you compare us with some of the more established Super League club's that we are competing with, so to be able to attract a record number of youngsters to sign with us is a huge positive.
"This is the next step along the player development pathway for these young men and it is feasible that with the right application they could be making a Super League debut in the next few years.
"Our Youth Development programme has seen us form links with Hymers College in Hull, but also further afield including the Grimsby Institute and the Scottish Rugby League. We want to make sure we leave no stone unturned in bringing the best talent we possibly can to this club."
Head coach Justin Morgan commented: "This is a proud moment not only for the players but for the families who have put a lot into helping these young men achieve their goals.
"Their next goal is to get into the Academy team and then beyond that they can look towards a Super League debut.
"It's been proven at this club that if you're prepared to work hard and you're good enough then you will get the chance- Kris Welham and Liam Watts are just a couple of recent examples of that.
"There is still a lot of hard work between now and then though, but with the coaching staff we have in place I'm confident that these boys have got the best possible opportunity to fulfil their potential."
