The recent transfers of Liam Byrne and Harvie Hill to Warrington Wolves and Hull FC, respectively, may appear to have little connection to Hull Kingston Rovers (Hull KR), but they serve as a timely reminder of a critical challenge facing the Robins. If this issue is not tackled effectively, it could become a significant obstacle for Hull KR as they aim to consistently establish themselves among the top teams in the Super League.
At present, Hull KR’s prospects appear bright. With an unbeaten record on the field and substantial off-field progress, the club is undeniably on an upward trajectory. However, one persistent issue that remains unresolved is the insufficient number of academy players making an impact in the first team. Mikey Lewis is an exception, as he is the only player who has successfully risen through the academy ranks and secured a spot in Hull KR’s senior squad. The club must address this imbalance if they are to maintain sustainable growth.
This issue is further highlighted by the recent departures of Byrne and Hill, who are set to join new clubs in 2026. The reality for Wigan, and perhaps a warning for Hull KR, is that while the club’s financial position is strong, they were unable to compete with Warrington or Hull FC in terms of offering attractive contracts to these players. Despite Wigan’s financial strength, the salary cap restrictions hindered their ability to retain these players.
The salary cap system, designed to promote competitive balance, poses challenges even for well-established clubs. For example, Hill, who is currently a squad player for Wigan, had potential but was seen as a guaranteed first-team player by other clubs, who were willing to offer him a more lucrative deal. Similarly, Byrne was considered a player who could elevate Warrington’s performance, and they were willing to pay a premium for him. As clubs like Wigan continue to sign and renew contracts for top players, salary expectations inevitably rise, making it increasingly difficult to retain everyone. This situation is not unique to Wigan, as St Helens faced similar challenges during their four consecutive title victories, with players such as Theo Fages, James Bentley, and Lachlan Coote moving on to other clubs.
In the future, Hull KR could face a similar dilemma. They have already experienced a taste of this when Matty Storton moved to Wakefield Trinity in 2026. At the time, Hull KR’s head coach, Willie Peters, admitted that they were unable to match Wakefield’s offer. As the club continues to enjoy success, it is inevitable that they will encounter more of these situations.
The key to long-term success, as demonstrated by clubs like Wigan, St Helens, and Leeds, is the development of homegrown talent. When Fages left St Helens, the club had promising players like Lewis Dodd and Jack Welsby to step in. Similarly, Wigan has been able to navigate the loss of players to the NRL by having talented young players like Kai Pearce-Paul and Junior Nsemba ready to fill the gaps.
Unfortunately, Hull KR has lagged behind their rivals in this regard. The club is aware of this shortfall, with CEO Paul Lakin acknowledging the importance of developing academy players to manage salary cap constraints. Lakin has openly discussed the challenges the club faces and emphasized the need to improve their academy system. In December, he explained that fans might be surprised by some of the club’s decisions in the coming years, which could be driven by the constraints of the salary cap. Reflecting on the examples set by Wigan and St Helens, Lakin stated, “If that happens, it will be dictated to by the salary cap, and one thing that’s certain is we need to do a better job of progressing our academy players.”
To address this issue, Hull KR has made efforts to bolster their squad with young talent from outside the club. The signing of players like Noah Booth, along with links to Connor Wynne, demonstrates the club’s commitment to strengthening its development system. Recently, Hull KR has also added Leon Ruan, Bill Leyland, and Eribe Doro to their ranks, and these players are being nurtured on a daily basis.
While these efforts may help mitigate the problem, it remains to be seen whether they will be enough to overcome the challenges that lie ahead. The recent events at Wigan serve as a stark reminder of the importance of investing in youth development and the potential pitfalls of failing to do so.