Seen as though Hull Kingston Rovers are celebrating ten years as a top-flight side, we thought we’d use this week’s WATN? to look back at a special game of theirs from their debut season in Super League.
The first ever Hull derby to take place in Super League happened back in April of 2007, and seen as though it’s the first derby of 2016 on Good Friday this week, here’s a look back at the 17 men that turned out for Rovers back then – with a look at what they’ve done since.
Fullback: Jonathan Goddard
Now 33, Goddard started his professional career with Castleford Tigers before moving onto Hull KR – where he was a member of the squad who gained promotion to Super League in 2006. He went on to play for another club in West Yorkshire, back down in the Championship with Halifax.
Wing: Jon Steel
The Teesider was initially a rugby union player, spending time with Borders RU in the 15-man code and actually playing at youth level for the Scots. However, his move to Hull KR in 2005 signified a change of code for the winger, and unfortunately, a broken leg hampered his first season in Super League with the Robins. He was in the Scotland squad for the 2008 World Cup and would go on to play with Featherstone.
Centre: Luke Dyer
Dyer is perhaps more famous as the man who scored Crusaders’ first try during their ill-fated spell in Super League. He had played in Australia with Penrith and in Super League with Castleford before joining Rovers, and during his time at Hull KR he made 26 appearances, scoring 13 tries before joining Crusaders.
Stand-off: Scott Murrell
Still only 30 to this day, Murrell is still playing rugby league professionally at Halifax, where he is the captain of Richard Marshall’s side. However, he’s most fondly remembered for his time with the Robins, where he made over 150 appearances for the club between 2006 and 2012.
Scrum-half: James Webster
Where is James Webster now? Right back where he was in 2007! He was captain of the Robins during this particular game – with FC coach Lee Radford captaining the Black and Whites! He left the Robins and started his coaching career at Wakefield before returning to KR earlier this year.
Prop: Makali Aizue
The popular PNG prop is still one of the most fondly remembered men from the Robins’ early days in Super League – and after leaving them in 2009 he spent time with Halifax and Dewsbury in recent years. Aizue is now playing on in 2016 with Doncaster RLFC in League One.
Prop: Michael Vella
The big forward, still only 38 in 2016, finished his professional career with the Robins after a previous spell in the NRL with Parramatta. He was at the Eels from 1998 to 2006 before joining the Robins, spending five seasons with them before bringing the curtain down on his career and returning to Australia, where he works as a personal trainer.
Second row: Chris Chester
Chester is another graduate of the Robins’ team from this game to be coaching professionally now – and up until recently, he was coach at KR. However, he was sacked a handful of games into the season and has now been appointed boss at hometown club Wakefield.
Loose forward: Stanley Gene
Gene had two spells with the Robins, and in between that he spent time at Hull FC, Huddersfield and Bradford. The big forward finished his career with Halifax before heading into coaching with Newcastle Thunder. Gene is currently working as a community coach for York City Knights following his departure from Thunder.
Also in that team: Andreas Bauer (centre), Byron Ford (wing), Ben Fisher (hooker), Jason Netherton (second row) Tommy Gallagher (sub), Jim Gannon (sub), David Tangata-Toa (sub)