Hull KR coach Tony Smith has praised his forwards, and George Lawler and George King in particular, after the Robins’ thrilling 25-24 victory over Huddersfield Giants on Friday night.
It was the Robins’ first win of the Super League season, and Smith was delighted to get off the mark.
“There are some really good signs for us and I think we’re making progress,” said Smith.
“Other people can shoot me down and say that we’re not, but tonight is progress for us.”
Lawler and King were part of a forward pack that lost prop Korbin Sims to a head knock early in the game, but despite that they stood up to be counted.
Lawler impressed with 52 tackles and 18 carries for 131 metres, with Matt Parcell getting three Albert Goldthorpe points and King also impressive, as he made a stunning break to create a thrilling try for Mikey Lewis.
“Really good, really good,” said Smith. “They were outstanding.
“George King’s first half… his footwork to make that break was fantastic. You don’t see many frontrowers using that sort of footwork.
“George just keeps working. He’s put a good 50 minutes in there for us on the fly after what he did for us last week.”
King is relishing being in the starting lineup, after a Super League career that saw him make only 22 Super League starts before this season, while coming off the bench 91 times in a career that began under Smith at Warrington and took in Wakefield Trinity.
“It’s great that I’ve managed to get a few starts. It’s looking really positive in that regard,” King said.
“It’s just about trying to improve myself under Tony Smith.
“He was one of the reasons I first went to Warrington. Then last year my contract was running out at Wakefield and Tony sold Hull KR to me straight away, explaining the areas in which I needed to improve.
“I generally feel like I am improving in several areas, and I have a lot of improvement still in me. And the players we have brought in are fantastic.
“We are building something special here.”
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