![\"Jez](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/0_Jez-Litten-pre-season-1jfif.jpg\")
<\/p>\nWhile Hull KR are confident that their leadership group is evolving having lost two senior figures in 2025, one star has caught the eye during pre-season with a big prediction made.<\/p>\n
10:55, 02 Feb 2026Updated 14:54, 02 Feb 2026<\/p>\n
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Jez Litten was named in last year’s Super League Dream Team and later earned England’s starting number nine shirt for the Ashes.(Image: Hull KR)<\/p>\n
Hull KR lost two senior figures in Michael McIlorum and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves at the end of 2025, but the Robins are confident their leadership group is evolving as they gear up for what promises to be a mammoth campaign.<\/p>\n
Elliot Minchella enters his third season as Hull KR<\/a> captain after succeeding Shaun Kenny-Dowall ahead of the 2024 campaign. The loose forward is backed by a strong core of senior players within the Robins\u2019 leadership group, while established first-team stars have been pushed by the club\u2019s youngsters and new recruits in preparation for 2026<\/a>.<\/p>\n Collectively, the group has filled the void left by McIlorum and Waerea-Hargreaves, who both retired after helping Hull KR to a historic season that delivered a clean sweep of trophies. However, one player in particular has stood out with his actions – Jez Litten.<\/p>\n The livewire hooker enjoyed his best season yet in 2025, culminating in international honours with England during the Ashes series, where he made the number nine shirt his own under then-head coach Shaun Wane. Litten played a crucial role in Hull KR\u2019s success across last year’s campaign and was rewarded with a place in the Super League Dream Team.<\/p>\n Hull Live previously shared that Litten had been catching the eye across the club’s pre-season<\/a>, and captain Minchella has been continually impressed by the hooker\u2019s hard work and growing influence within the squad.<\/p>\n \u201cOne person who has gone to another level with his leadership for me is Jez Litten,\u201d Minchella told Hull Live.<\/p>\n \u201cI don\u2019t know whether that\u2019s come from England in the Ashes, where he played well, but I\u2019ve seen a real change in Jez with his leadership.<\/p>\n \u201cHe\u2019s been great, direct, and I think he learned a lot from Michael McIlorum last year. His toughness and his all-round game – Jez has gone to a whole new level, and that\u2019s great for us.<\/p>\n \u201cHe was a leader before, but he\u2019s gone to that next level. He\u2019s got massive respect from the group anyway, but he\u2019s been training the house down.\u201d<\/p>\n Still only 27, Litten is believed to have even more to come, according to his trusted team-mate. Hull KR\u2019s competitive season begins this Friday in the third round of the Challenge Cup against community club Lock Lane.<\/p>\n A huge period then follows for the Robins, including their Super League opener away to York Knights, the highly anticipated World Club Challenge against Brisbane Broncos, and the Las Vegas showdown with Leeds Rhinos<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cNext year, I think Jez is going to go to an even better level and that\u2019s exciting,\u201d Minchella added.<\/p>\n \u201cJez is a consistent person. We knew what he was going to produce for England, and it didn\u2019t surprise us.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s what he did week in, week out for us. There\u2019s no surprise it transferred onto the international stage because of how hard he works.\u201d<\/p>\n Super League 2026 Preview ON SALE NOW The new Super League season is upon us and to get you ready for kick-off we’ve got the essential season preview ON SALE NOW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Packed full of exclusive interviews with the game’s big hitters on and off the field, we also profile the new faces to watch out for and predict the biggest stories of the year. Featuring exclusive interviews from all 14 clubs, features, analysis and predictions, Super League 2026 really is your one stop shop for the new season.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-01-30-at-150350jpeg.jpg\")
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