James Webster is set to consider his options in the centre department with Thomas Minns and Liam Salter set to be missing for extended periods, although he wouldn’t be drawn into speculation surrounding Konrad Hurrell.
Both Minns and Salter have suffered recurrences of previous injuries; Minns sustaining another serious concussion while Salter dislocated his shoulder for a second time this year while on dual registration duty for Newcastle Thunder against York City Knights on Friday night.
Salter had a shoulder operation in March and was making his return for Thunder, but dislocated his shoulder in a different place.
Meanwhile, Minns, who had already missed an extended period of time earlier this season with a previous concussion, was knocked out again during the match with Hull FC.
“Thomas has to go and see a specialist because of the number of times it’s happened,” Webster told TotalRL.
“He’s definitely unavailable under guidelines to play this week.
“Liam Salter had his first game back but dislocated it again. It came out a different way, so he’s off to see the doctor this afternoon (Monday). With two dislocations this year you would probably say he’ll need an operation, and that’s three of four months, so it’s unlikely he’ll see much action again.”
It leaves Rovers with a lack of depth at centre, with Iain Thornley the only recognised player fit in that position while Ryan Shaw is also out for the year with an ACL injury.
“We are extremely light in that. We went with the three recognised centres this season and we have lost two of them.”
Talk on the terraces will naturally link the club with a move for a replacement. One man that has been linked with the club recently is Konrad Hurrell, the New Zealand Warriors centre who has struggled for game time this season.
While Webster revealed he had not heard that speculation, he joked that he might speak to his brother and Warriors assistant Andrew Webster about his availability.
“If we bring someone in they have to be better than what we already have,” Webster said.
“Jamie Peacock will take care of that for us and he has his finger on the pulse. We’ll know in a couple of days what will happen there.”
“I’ll have to ask my brother. I don’t know. He’s a decent player and he’s played well. I don’t know if he’s had a fallout with the coach and if he has I don’t know why. But I haven’t had a phone call personally asking about Konrad Hurrell.”
