O'Hara to miss start of season
January 11, 2012 11:37:21 UK
Hull KR prop forward Ryan O'Hara will miss the start of the season after being told he requires surgery on a shoulder problem.
O'Hara suffered the injury while training with his team-mates at the club's warm-weather training camp in Tenerife. But, while head coach Craig Sandercock is confident the Australian won't miss too many matches, he says he's happy to offer an opportunity in the opening rounds to a younger player.
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We decided to get the surgery done so that he'll be 100 per cent fit when he does come back.
Craig Sandercock
"We could have possibly managed Ryan through the season, but we decided to get the surgery done so that he'll be 100 per cent fit when he does come back. Hopefully, he'll be available again for round four of the competition," said Sandercock, who is preparing for his first season in charge of the Robins.
"Obviously it's very unfortunate for Ryan, but it will give somebody else a chance to put their hand up, and we're pretty lucky in that we have quite a bit of depth in the front row. I'm excited about seeing how the younger blokes go."
A youthful Hull KR side was defeated 20-12 by Featherstone on Sunday but, despite failing to pick up the win, Sandercock says he was impressed with what he saw.
"I feel that plenty of those young players did enough in the match against Featherstone to put their hands up for a place in the squad to play Wigan. It's an exciting situation with so many youngsters pushing for a first-team place," added Sandercock.
The Robins face the Leeds Rhinos in round one of Super League on 3rd February. Hull KR are 5001.00 to win the Challenge Cup this season and 151.00 to finish at the top of the regular season standings. They are also 176.00 to win the Grand Final.
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