Minchella talks Captaincy, pre-season and praises Super League ahead of Hull Derby

Hull KR Captain, Elliot Minchella spoke to press on his side’s pre-season effort, the club's Captaincy and praised the work of RLC and IMG ahead of Thursday’s Super League opener against Hull FC.

The Robins made both the Challenge Cup Final and came within 80 minutes of Old Trafford in 2023, but Minchella has highlighted the side’s dedication to improving and remaining grounded ahead of the 2024 season:

‘It’s been good. It’s been hard work. It’s what pre-season is about. We’ve focused on getting better, like everyone else and we’re no different. We’ve had a really good pre-season and we’re ready to play now.

‘We’ve fined tuned some stuff and looked at where we can get better and where to improve but also what we did well, and doing that over and over again.

‘We’ve made a few changes, having a change in the spine of the team does make a difference to how you play so I’m looking forward to seeing how that goes. We’re still going to stick to our identity and that’s working hard and grafting as a team, that doesn’t change no matter what.

‘It’s a new year, a new start. Last year has been and gone now so it’s a fresh start and I’m looking forward too it. I’m really excited for Thursday night.'

Before Christmas, the 28 year-old was named Hull KR Captain after impressing Willie Peters last season. The captaincy is a role ‘Mini' is taking in his stride:

‘Its a massive honour and something I’m very proud of. It’s something (the Hull KR Captaincy) I don’t take lightly. It’s a great honour and I recognise that there’s been great Captains at this club before and I’m hoping that I can be one of them when it’s my time to pass on the baton to someone else, leave the club in a better place than what I found it in.

‘It’s business as usual. I’m very proud this (the Hull Derby) is my very first game as Captain. But at the same time it’s not about me, it;’s about the team and it always will be.

‘There’s no added pressure, you can get caught up in things like that. I’m going to really enjoy the occasion for what it is. It’ll be a massive crowd and I really can’t wait to run out there and experience that atmosphere.

‘I’m really looking forward to the season opener, it’s going to be a really good way to start the season. But it’s business as usual, crack on with the game and hopefully we come out on the winning side.’

2024 marks a re-energised era for the Betfred Super League with the launch of the competition’s streaming platform, SuperLeague+ alongside the league’s new broadcast partnership with BBC.

The new platform and the agreement with BBC, will see all games broadcasted live across SuperLeague+ and Sky with BBC also showing 15 games a year for the next three seasons.

Speaking on the announcements, Minchella said: ‘I think it’s fantastic, I really love it. It’s great that every single game will be available on loads of different platforms.

‘We was at the Super League Launch on Thursday last week and they spoke about how every game is going to be broadcasted every single week. I think it’s great, for me there’s no negative to it whatsoever.

‘For Super League to be on the BBC, that’s fantastic. I can’t see anything but positive things that are happening.

'I’m a massive fan and long may it continue. It’s up to us now as players to produce the product that gets people wanting to engage in Rugby League.’