Ryan Donaldson has tipped Ryan Shaw to set Super League alight this year.
An off-season recruit from Bradford, Shaw is being tipped to claim a place in the Hull KR squad for their Super League opener with Castleford this weekend.
Following an impressive pre-season campaign, Donaldson believes Shaw can be a hit at Rovers this year.
“Without a doubt, Shawy can realise his potential here at Rovers,” he told the Hull Daily Mail.
“Shawy is as fit as a fiddle. His running game is outstanding and he talks with his try-scoring ratio last year.
“He maybe needs a bit more toughness in defence but I think we all do.”
Having known Shaw through his Cumbrian connections, as well as both being part of the Bulls’ set-up at one stage in their career, Donaldson’s friendship goes way back and even found time to poke fun at his new team-mate.
Donaldson and Shaw share Cumbrian connections, with the former revealing they have a close friendship.
“I live quite close to the Bradford training ground and I was a regular customer at Costa. That’s where we meet every morning with Shaun Lunt and James Greenwood sometimes and it’s where I first met Shawy,” Donaldson said.
“I’ve met him in Warrington and other places, but he’s from Barrow, not the real part of Cumbria. It’s not Whitehaven or Workington, he’s from the back end of it!
“I’ve got to know him but Cumbrians seem to have a strong bond anyway and we’ve got on like a house on fire.”
