Hull KR are no closer to deciding who will start at full-back for them this weekend, Willie Peters has confirmed.
The Robins, who will face Leigh Leopards just six days after beating Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup semi-finals, are in a very healthy position in terms of squad fitness.
Jack Broadbent has performed exceptionally in recent weeks at full-back, doing so again on Sunday as he played his part in helping Rovers reach Wembley.
However, French international and perhaps the more natural number one, Arthur Mourgue, is close to a return from injury, with this week’s game said to be his comeback match.
Mourgue hasn’t featured since the World Club Challenge win, where he left the field early due to a pectoral issue.
After three months out, he could be in line to make his return, but with Broadbent’s recent form, his place in the side is far from certain.
“We’ll make a decision on that,” Peters said regarding the Mourge-Broadbent debate. “Obviously, we’ve got two very good options.
“It’s certainly not an easy decision. It won’t be an easy decision, but obviously we can only have one full-back, and it’s a decision that we’ve made through the coaches and we’ll go from there.”
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Commenting on Mourgue’s fitness as he prepares to return, Peters said: “He was sharp last week and he’s trained again today, so he looks in decent shape.”
Leigh boss Adrian Lam has revealed today that he expects both Mourgue and Broadbent to line-up this week, with one starting and one on the bench.
Lam thinks that Broadbent will begin the game, with Mourgue coming off the bench, given that he is able to cover both the halves and full-back.
Should one miss out, it will mean that Peters will have to have the unfortunate conversation surrounding leaving a player out, something he claims is “the worst part” of being a head coach.
He said: “I don’t enjoy telling players that they’re not in, but it’s part and parcel of the job.
“You’ve got to do it and do it in the right way, but it’s never easy to let players know that they’re not in.
“There’s a few there at the moment that could easily be in our side that have done and are doing a job for us.
“We’ll just have to see, as I said, what we do, with the make-up of our bench and what all that looks like as well. So, yeah, they’re not easy decisions.”
KR have further selection decisions to think about with James Batchelor out for the next two games. Rhyse Martin is expected to slot straight into his shoes, whilst Karl Lawton and Tom Whitehead are also options.
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