Rhys Lovegrove: 'Hull KR stars cut corners and let Craig Sandercock down'
HULL KR forward Rhys Lovegrove admits his side paid the price for players cutting corners last season.
The Robins missed out on making the play-offs for the first time in four years as an end-of-season slump saw them finish in 10th place.
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'Toughest pre-season': Rhys Lovegrove
And ahead of a return to training at Craven Park next week, Lovegrove says the players need to look at themselves first when identifying areas for improvement.
"It's fair to say we took short cuts last season, and for that reason, I expect this year's pre-season to be the toughest yet," Lovegrove told the Mail.
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"Rules are put in place for a reason and they cannot be bent. I expect it to be very strict from both the club and players' point of view this season."
Lovegrove identifies players failing to complete their 'wellness' assessments after training as an area in which they let themselves and their coaches down last season.
Players are asked to honestly assess the impact playing and training has had on their bodies.
The aim is to help coaches plan their management of fitness levels throughout the squad, but Lovegrove admits that coach Craig Sandercock had to chase them for details.
"We have a wellness sheet to fill out and these have to be completed properly for the coaches to get a true reflection of how we are after training sessions," he said.
"We have to self-police it and not have the coach come down on us like a tonne of bricks.
"Craig has enough on his plate without having to waste time chasing us to do things we should be doing any way.
"There were also other little things we did which were not good enough, perhaps simple things like not stripping down the weight bars after we use them in training. We shouldn't be leaving that to others."
The 25-year-old is preparing for his sixth pre-season at Rovers after joining in the middle of the 2007 campaign, and expects it to be the toughest ever.
But whilst he has been trying to rest ahead of the new season, he has been juggling fatherhood with studying for a degree, and raising the profile of local charity Jasmin's Dream with a sponsored hair and beard growing venture to send eight-year-old non-Hodgkin's lymphoma sufferer Jazmine Jones to Florida.
Anyone wishing to sponsor Rhys can do so by visiting uk.virginmoneygiving.com/RhysLovegrove. You can also follow his progress on Twitter @rhyshtl.
Comments
by Ricksinn
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 7:20PM
“H H K K RRRR
H H K K R R
HHHH KK RRRR
H H K K R R
H H K K R R.
IM BORED”
by albaz
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 12:54PM
“Agree with "win as a team,lose as a team",but if I see a player showing a bad attitude, as I believe the three players I mention did, then I say so and if the attitude is wrong drop those responsible for effecting morale. Will all the players "buy into" Sandercocks methods? Either they do or they go ,or he does.”
by Jay26
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 10:51AM
“Slammer, How do you know "they all buy into it?"”
by Dr_Slammer
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 7:58AM
“albaz, whilst I agree individual errors contributed to many of last seasons losses (and I include CS), I think it is unfair to single them out now. As Bridrobin rightly says it was the collective effort re concentration, discipline and tackling that were the main failings in Rovers game. I will also add that Rovers played most of last season with a relatively inexperienced 17 who will be better for the experience, likewise so will CS.
And strange as it might seem, Rhys is right to point out if the little things aren't being done collectively then it stands to reason it will seep into other aspects of the team.
As I stated in my earlier post, there was a group of players who didn't buy into CS's new regime. That's what happens when a new culture (sports science methods) is introduced, but the squad for 2013 all buy into it. That's what counts NOW.”
by bridrobin
Wednesday, October 31 2012, 12:50AM
“A green tick albaz.
CS does need to instil a culture of 100% effort. This includes concentration, discipline and tackling, on many occasions these were three major failings in Rovers game.
It's all very well scoring points but the idea is to score more than you concede. Hopefully this problem will be addressed pre season.
Should be interesting.”
by albaz
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 7:48PM
“Wellness sheets and weight bars?????? There was a lot wrong,especially in the second half of last season,with the coach seemingly clueless and some players hardly interested but still being selected. Webster was either injured and missing or playing and going missing as in the match against Wigan. Mika spent 30 minutes without a single drive and threw two ludicrous passes in one game . McDonnell fielded a kick ten yards out and threw the ball dead with over two minutes of the half to go and had obviously no intention of ever risking a knock. I have never bothered where players were from ,only that they give 100% for however long they are on the pitch. After six games next season, if we get more of the same, deadwood should go then and not when the season is over, [literally or otherwise.]”
by Jay26
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 2:54PM
“"Wellness sheets" Haha. So players are requested by their coach to fill in these sheets and the players dont do it. What does that tell you? It tells me they have no respect for him or his ideas. And truth be known I can understand why.”
by SEYM0UR7
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 2:16PM
“albany
what do you think of the Prince debacle? Is it disappointing that your chairman has tried to sign Chase, Miller, Prince, Paea, Bateman and Amor, claimed six internationals were 'in the bag' and has delivered NONE of them?
Sensible answer please.”
by albanyrovers
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 1:49PM
“The truth is he did lose the dressing room and results showed it .No good trying to dress it up .”
by SEYM0UR7
Tuesday, October 30 2012, 1:22PM
“Willie
Could be worse, we could have announced that we were signing Chase, Prince, Amor, Bateman, Miller, six internationals, the best two half backs in the world and actually signed NONE of them.
Now do you believe me that Pearson is all mouth?
Its just too funny, maybe we should let you all grieve in peace for a while.”