Video: Promoted Hull KR must start planning now to avoid repeat relegation, says Sheens
The veteran Australian coach oversaw the Championship club’s top-flight return at the first attempt after they beat Super League Widnes Vikings 12-6 on Saturday.
It meant the Robins – relegated in heartbreaking fashion in last year’s Million Pound Game – have won all five Qualifiers games so far to secure promotion even before Friday’s visit from Catalans Dragons and a final fixture at Warrington Wolves.
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Hide AdSheens, 66, will now sit down with the club’s hierarchy to formulate a way forward with the Robins looking to strengthen their playing squad for 2018.
High-calibre mid-season signings such as ex-St Helens prop Mase Masoe – who claimed on Saturday night he would remain at Craven Park next term – Justin Carney and Lee Jewitt already leave Rovers in good stead.
“Yes, it’s a good start,” said Sheens, who won the 2013 World Cup with the Kangaroos but rated this achievement as one of his best yet.
“We had James Donaldson and Josh Johnson out with injuries for the year, too, and we have a very good reserve team as well.
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Hide Ad“But you need depth to cover your injuries and things that will always happen to you.
“We still need to improve our team if we are going to be a week in, week out Super League side.
“We’ve been planning for weeks about next year but I couldn’t ring an agent and say ‘yes we’re in Super League and I’ve got the budget for you’. A lot of people have held off.
“We’ve got some good names there so we’ll wait and see how much money I’ll have to spend.
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