Hull KR preview

Last season

It is a period of change for the Robins, who for the first time since their return to the top flight won't be under the leadership of Justin Morgan.

The Australian's last year in charge at Craven Park saw the club reach the play-offs for a third straight year, albeit only thanks to a win over Castleford in a winner-takes-all showdown in front of the Sky Sports cameras.

Sadly the Robins were rocked away in Perpignan a week later, losing 56-6 against the Catalans Dragons to bring the curtain down on Morgan's successful six-year reign.

At least they did edge the three-game series against their neighbours, getting the better of Hull on the opening weekend in Cardiff before recording a 17-10 triumph on home soil in June.

They hit Wakefield for 70 in July, though no other team who finished in the top eight conceded as many points (692) as Rovers.

Still, the emergence of Kris Welham, who scored 24 tries in Super League XVI, and the excellent half-back combination of Blake Green and Michael Dobson (the pair managed 22 try assists apiece) suggests Morgan left Hull KR in good shape. Craig Sandercock, it's over to you...

Ins and outs

Sandercock has taken over from his compatriot after being highly recommended to the Robins following his work as an assistant coach at Newcastle Knights.

The new boss didn't take long to raid his old club for players either, bringing Shannon McDonnell and Constantine Mika with him. Mickey Paea has also arrived from the NRL, though Rovers haven't just looked overseas.

There are three former Giants now at the club - David Hodgson takes over from the departed Peter Fox on the wing, while Graeme Horne has returned to Hull, albeit to the other side of the city, to set up a family feud with brother Richard in the derby games.

Keal Carlile is the other former Huddersfield player and also the second hooker to be signed in the winter - Lincoln Withers was snapped up from Crusaders, along with hard-running forward Ryan O'Hara.

Many of the men who served Morgan so well during his time in charge have departed - full-back Shaun Briscoe, winger Fox and Ben Fisher have moved on to pastures new, while Mick Vella has hung up his boots.

Clint Newton has gone back to the NRL after being released from the final year of his contract. It is also easy to forget that this time last year the red and white half of Hull were eagerly anticpiating the arrival of Willie Mason - talk about an anti-climax.

Outlook

Morgan made great strides in his time in charge at Craven Park and it is a measure of his achievements that the Robins are now considered a strong Super League outfit.

What it also means is that new boss Sandercock has big shoes to fill, and already the Australian is being hampered by injuries.

Green was superb in his first year at the club but could miss the entire 2012 campaign with a blood clot - his absence leaves a lot on the shoulders of fellow half-back Dobson - while new skipper Ben Galea will miss the first three months with a knee problem.

Losing two key men is tough for any squad to take, so Rovers fans may have to show a bit of patience. They have lost some experienced old heads too during the winter months but the top eight should still be attainable.

At least Sandercock should know plenty about two of his overseas signings - McDonnell has the tough task of replacing the rock-steady Briscoe as the last line of defence, while Mika takes over in the pack from the talismanic Vella.

Such major changes make it tough to predict just what to expect from the Robins, who may have to rely heavily on some of their promising young talent if the casualty list gets any longer.