Hull Kingston Rovers and the reinvention of the wheel - Part II

Prior to Tony Smith's arrival at Hull KR in June 2019, the club was in a malaise. A little over two years later, they sit in a play off place, with a genuine chance of staying there. 

Hull KR have not finished above 9th place in Super League since 2011 and have only finished in the top half of the table once since their return to the top flight in 2007. With a fair wind, Hull KR will fancy their chances of repeating that feat in 2021.

But how did they get here? In 2019, Tony Smith's first half-season in charge, the Rovers avoided relegation on points difference. They lost their final league game of the season away at Salford and were saved only by virtue of London's 9-point defeat against Wakefield. It should be said that the 2019 season was remarkable in many ways and Hull KR's 20 point total would have been enough to avoid relegation in any season and comfortably in most seasons.

Recruitment

I have always associated Hull KR with instability. In recent years, their squad tended to change fundamentally year-on-year. Take 2020 for example, they made 14 signings. Seven of those signings are no longer at the club. 12 players in total departed. This was not a one off. It was repeated over a number of years. You cannot expect success and stability with such a high turnover of playing staff.

There was a change of approach in recruitment for the 2021 season. Hull KR signed 5 players (and one on loan) and released 12. The priority was once quantity over quality. No more. Instead of multiple experimental signings from Championship clubs, they signed seasoned pros such as Ryan Hall, Brad Takairangi and Korbin Sims. Hull KR have developed a team and not just a squad.

Playing Style

Whilst their recruitment may have taken a more orthodox turn, their playing style has not. When you listen to the majority of Super League coaches, they will speak of possession, error-free rugby and completion. Listen to Tony Smith, he speaks a language of adventure and enterprise.

Smith is wedded to this philosophy, sometimes to his detriment. His Warrington side of the early part of the 2010's played the same way. They were free-scoring, free-flowing and thrilling. Yet in the big games they fell short.

They rarely played by the book and did not fear risk. One pet play of Tony Smith's Warrington side was charging down a kick. A high-risk, low percentage play. I recall a moment in the 2013 Grand Final when the game was finely balanced. Warrington had Wigan penned deep in their own half. Perceived wisdom would be to allow Wigan to get the kick away. Warrington would surely start their next set close to half way. Warrington didn't do that. They rushed the kicker, charged the ball down, failed to recover it and Wigan got a pressure-relieving fresh set. Warrington went on to lose that match.

Warrington have lost to Wigan in three Grand Finals. By contrast, Wigan, under head coach Shaun Wane, had a very overt 'win at all costs mentality'. It may not have been pretty to watch but it did bring silverware. That same silverware that Warrington were desperate to clinch.

Ultimately, Warrington fans grew weary at 'dumb rugby' and watching their rather attractive side fail on the biggest stage. Smith too grew weary towards the end of his run at Warrington, taking a hiatus from the sport having 'fallen out of love' with it.

The Return

Smith's statement had the sense of closure and finality. Little had changed in terms of how the sport was played between the end of 2017 and mid-2019, so what had caused Smith's change of heart? Had he missed the sport more than he thought he would? Did Hull KR agree to give him free reign?

It's open to speculation but the evidence that we have suggests Smith was given the right to play as he saw fit. His track record may have persuaded Hull KR to do that.

With the pressure valve of relegation being removed for 2020, Hull KR were freed from any restrictive harness. We saw this post-lockdown. They tried short kick offs and outrageous offloads that looked destined to fail. And they did. This was clearly a ploy by Smith, who told the media, on the absence of relegation:

"We're more likely to see teams trying to win games rather than try not to lose them, which makes for better rugby league. I find it far more entertaining than the stuff we've been dishing up for the last five years, the five drives and a kick to the corner."

Hull KR ultimately finished bottom in 2020. Whilst it was an odd season, in another year, Hull KR may be playing in the Championship now. Instead, they are competing with and beating some of the best in Super League.

In 2021, Hull KR have stuck with their expansive and entertaining philosophy, albeit in a more refined and controlled manner compared to 2020. This, combined with smart signings, has led to a far stronger 2021.

The Future

Before a ball was kicked, I would have considered that a season of consolidation for Hull KR to have been a success. To progress, they needed a year without a relegation headache and being away from the bottom few places. Their recent positive form has heightened expectations. As do favourable fixtures in the run-in.

In the last year or so, Hull KR have made me ask a fundamental question. Why do we watch rugby league? Is it for results and processes? Or for fun? Rovers take their obligation to entertain seriously.

As a sport, we are competing with more mediums of entertainment than ever before. It is harder than ever to draw attention and eyeballs to the game. Under the stewardship of Tony Smith, Hull KR have found a coach that is determined to bring the fun factor back to the sport. It is a partnership that seems to be working well. Smith is given the freedom to form a team to entertain and in return makes Hull KR a team to watch. Maybe the team to watch.

As a neutral observer, when Hull KR play a televised match, I look forward to watching it. And if that leads to more people falling back in love with rugby league, that can only be a good thing. 

Arguably (and sorry in advance for this line, Hull FC fans), the sport would benefit from a team like Hull KR succeeding. It would show that the way to escape a malaise is not simply to 'stick to the process' but to think outside the box. Hull KR are, in their own way, reinventing the wisdom of how the sport should be played. And that challenge to the perceived blueprint may benefit us all.