Jordan Abdull and Adam Quinlan both out long-term: How will Hull KR cope?

Hull Kingston Rovers pair Jordan Abdull and Adam Quinlan will both miss out on match action in the coming weeks as they recover from longer-term injuries, leaving KR scrambling for replacements.

As announced on the club’s official website earlier this week, Abdull and Quinlan both obtained their injuries in the 16-23 home defeat to Super League leaders Catalans Dragons on Monday – a game which Rovers competed in well for large parts.

Abdull – an early contender for the Man of Steel award in 2021 after consistently solid performances to date – suffered a fractured thumb during the contest and is expected to be absent for around five weeks as a minimum. Meanwhile teammate Quinlan took a big blow and came out with a disclocated shoulder which is worse than first feared, now requiring surgery to correct it.

Unfortunately for 28-year-old Quinlan, that shoulder issue will keep him our for the remainder of the campaign and having already had his end-of-season departure announced, he has now played his last game for the Robins.

Speaking about the two injuries to Abdull and fullback Quinlan, Rovers head coach Tony Smith said: “It’s unfortunate to lose Jordan as he’s been in such great form but it gives somebody else an opportunity.

“He will go away and work really hard on parts of his game that he can develop while he’s recovering. Jordan understands that, he’ll take it in his stride.

“In-game this season, Adam’s shoulder has come out [been dislocated]three of four times as well as in training too. We need to take care of him now and put him before the team which is tough because he always puts the team before himself.

“It’s sad that he’s going to have an operation on it and that he’s played his final game of the season but he’s still going to participate in many ways off the field and help the team along the way in what has been one of his most successful campaigns.

“It’s just a sad one for us, and a sad one for Quinny too.”

Once the news of those injuries was put out into the public domain, there was much talk surrounding who would be able to replace the absentees, both undoubtedly key men for Smith’s side.

As has been the widespread case across Super League in recent weeks, squad sizes have become increasingly depleted enough without any long-term injuries.

Soon after that first statement from the club though, a second one came and provided some comfort for Rovers’ fans as well as perhaps answers to the replacement query too, detailing that several first-team players would be recalled from their respective loans in the Betfred Championship.

Mikey Lewis (York City Knights), Will Dagger (Featherstone Rovers), Joe Keyes (Bradford Bulls), Will Tate and Tom Whur (both Rochdale Hornets) all rejoined their parent club with immediate affect. Elsewhere, Jimmy Keinhorst – loaned out on an emergency two-week basis to fellow top flight outfit Castleford Tigers – will be returning once those 14 days are up following the conclusion of the Fords’ match against Leeds Rhinos on Friday night (August 6).

In truth, that recall list may appear excessive but it’s necessity is bolstered by the fact that KR still have five Super League games scheduled before the end of this month. Trips to Leigh Centurions, Huddersfield Giants and home games against both Wigan Warriors and Wakefield Trinity are sandwiched between a mouth-watering Hull Derby away at bitter rivals Hull FC on August 20.

And while those returning to the club will aid that schedule in terms of squad rotation, replacing Abdull will be particularly difficult, potentially requiring a lot of shifting about to have squad members playing out of their ‘usual’ or ‘favoured’ position.

Dagger may well come in at fullback to replace Quinlan and if so, this is the young man’s chance to impress as he has done in the Championship so far this season with part-time Featherstone Rovers. Fev had won all of their games this season until being defeated by league leaders and full-time French outfit Toulouse last weekend, with Dagger playing a big role in that unbeaten run.

A halfback pairing of Brad Takaranghi and Mikey Lewis could also been seen in the next few fixtures if selected by boss Smith. Concerns have been expressed regarding Lewis’ defensive abilities previously, mainly due to inexperience, though the 20-year-old did impress alongside teammate Takaranghi in mid-June as KR secured victory away at Wigan Warriors.

That night, Lewis was heavily involved in two of the Robins tries and with bottom of the league Leigh up next – who Rovers beat 40-16 in the reverse fixture at Craven Park -, it seems a perfect time for he and the rest of the returning loanees to bed into the squad ahead of a difficult period.

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