Hull KR insist Dobson is not heading back

[josie andrews]

HULL Kingston Rovers have issued a 'hands off' warning to Canberra Raiders after the Australian club launched an audacious bid to re-sign their former scrum-half Michael Dobson.
According to reports in the Canberra Times, the NRL club were hoping to lure Dobson back Down Under in time to play against Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday, when the
22-year-old is scheduled to play for Rovers in the Hull derby.

Dobson joined HullKR in early May on a two-and-half year contract after failing to win a regular first-team place at Canberra, who have since sacked Todd Carney and lost Terry Campese and Marc Herbert to injury.

"It's a long shot, but it's something we're going to try and see how we go," said Canberra's chief executive Don Furner.

"I think Hull (sic) still have a game or two to go over there so it's probably unlikely they'd release their half-back, but you never know."

Furner's instinct proved spot-on with Hull KR coach Justin Morgan yesterday confirming that Dobson would be staying at Craven Park.

"Michael Dobson isn't going anywhere," said Morgan. "I have seen what's appeared in the Australian press, but no one has been in touch with me, not that there is any point making contact.

"'Dobbo' is under contract to us for another couple of years and I'm confident he'll want to see out that contract.

"I'm a little bit surprised because it's a massive U-turn by Canberra. First they tell the kid they don't want him and now they're trying to get him back.

"As much as I'd like to help, releasing Michael Dobson before this weekend or any other weekend would not be in the best interests of Hull Kingston Rovers."

Dobson was signed as a replacement for James Webster, the Australian scrum-half who led Rovers to promotion in 2006 and who suffered a serious shoulder injury earlier this year.

Webster joined Hull in June and is poised to make his debut at Craven Park on Sunday after finally receiving a UK passport which means he does not count on his new club's overseas quota.

"It has been a little frustrating, but you can't rush these things and you just have to remain patient," said Webster, who has taken up dual citizenship after marrying his Hull-born partner.

"Ideally, I would have liked to have played weeks ago, in fact the derby game at the KC in July would have been my choice.

"That didn't happen and I am now just glad I have the chance to play for Hull this season, especially as it looked as though I might have missed out altogether.

"One game is better than nothing and with it being a derby it will make it that much more special."

Webster is expected to line up alongside Richard Horne, who made his comeback after a five-month lay-off with a neck injury in Saturday's Challenge Cup final defeat by St Helens.

Hull's other half-back Adam Dykes, the injury-prone former Cronulla player, has suggested he could play this weekend after declaring himself fit for Wembley only to be left out on the advice of the club's medical staff.

Hull will definitely be without 18-year-old centre or winger Tom Briscoe after a scan disclosed that the injury which led to him being carried from the field on Saturday was ankle ligament damage and not a fractured tibia, as was first feared.

Leeds forwards Jamie Jones Buchanan and Ryan Bailey will undergo rigorous testing this week to determine whether they are fit enough to play in Friday's trip to Wakefield, when a bumper victory could see the Rhinos clinch the League Leaders' Shield if St Helens lose at home to Wigan.

Saints only need to avoid defeat to go into the play-offs in pole position while Wigan are acutely aware that defeat could see them drop from fifth to sixth if Bradford win at Castleford on Saturday, when fourth-placed Warrington host Huddersfield.

Should both Wigan and Warrington lose, victory on Saturday would see the Bulls climb to fourth and give them a home play-off against Warrington.

HULL Kingston Rovers have issued a 'hands off' warning to Canberra Raiders after the Australian club launched an audacious bid to re-sign their former scrum-half Michael Dobson.
According to reports in the Canberra Times, the NRL club were hoping to lure Dobson back Down Under in time to play against Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday, when the
22-year-old is scheduled to play for Rovers in the Hull derby.

Dobson joined HullKR in early May on a two-and-half year contract after failing to win a regular first-team place at Canberra, who have since sacked Todd Carney and lost Terry Campese and Marc Herbert to injury.

"It's a long shot, but it's something we're going to try and see how we go," said Canberra's chief executive Don Furner.

"I think Hull (sic) still have a game or two to go over there so it's probably unlikely they'd release their half-back, but you never know."

Furner's instinct proved spot-on with Hull KR coach Justin Morgan yesterday confirming that Dobson would be staying at Craven Park.

"Michael Dobson isn't going anywhere," said Morgan. "I have seen what's appeared in the Australian press, but no one has been in touch with me, not that there is any point making contact.

"'Dobbo' is under contract to us for another couple of years and I'm confident he'll want to see out that contract.

"I'm a little bit surprised because it's a massive U-turn by Canberra. First they tell the kid they don't want him and now they're trying to get him back.

"As much as I'd like to help, releasing Michael Dobson before this weekend or any other weekend would not be in the best interests of Hull Kingston Rovers."

Dobson was signed as a replacement for James Webster, the Australian scrum-half who led Rovers to promotion in 2006 and who suffered a serious shoulder injury earlier this year.

Webster joined Hull in June and is poised to make his debut at Craven Park on Sunday after finally receiving a UK passport which means he does not count on his new club's overseas quota.

"It has been a little frustrating, but you can't rush these things and you just have to remain patient," said Webster, who has taken up dual citizenship after marrying his Hull-born partner.

"Ideally, I would have liked to have played weeks ago, in fact the derby game at the KC in July would have been my choice.

"That didn't happen and I am now just glad I have the chance to play for Hull this season, especially as it looked as though I might have missed out altogether.

"One game is better than nothing and with it being a derby it will make it that much more special."

Webster is expected to line up alongside Richard Horne, who made his comeback after a five-month lay-off with a neck injury in Saturday's Challenge Cup final defeat by St Helens.

Hull's other half-back Adam Dykes, the injury-prone former Cronulla player, has suggested he could play this weekend after declaring himself fit for Wembley only to be left out on the advice of the club's medical staff.

Hull will definitely be without 18-year-old centre or winger Tom Briscoe after a scan disclosed that the injury which led to him being carried from the field on Saturday was ankle ligament damage and not a fractured tibia, as was first feared.

Leeds forwards Jamie Jones Buchanan and Ryan Bailey will undergo rigorous testing this week to determine whether they are fit enough to play in Friday's trip to Wakefield, when a bumper victory could see the Rhinos clinch the League Leaders' Shield if St Helens lose at home to Wigan.

Saints only need to avoid defeat to go into the play-offs in pole position while Wigan are acutely aware that defeat could see them drop from fifth to sixth if Bradford win at Castleford on Saturday, when fourth-placed Warrington host Huddersfield.

Should both Wigan and Warrington lose, victory on Saturday would see the Bulls climb to fourth and give them a home play-off against Warrington.
HULL Kingston Rovers have issued a 'hands off' warning to Canberra Raiders after the Australian club launched an audacious bid to re-sign their former scrum-half Michael Dobson.
According to reports in the Canberra Times, the NRL club were hoping to lure Dobson back Down Under in time to play against Canterbury Bulldogs on Sunday, when the
22-year-old is scheduled to play for Rovers in the Hull derby.

Dobson joined HullADVERTISEMENTKR in early May on a two-and-half year contract after failing to win a regular first-team place at Canberra, who have since sacked Todd Carney and lost Terry Campese and Marc Herbert to injury.

"It's a long shot, but it's something we're going to try and see how we go," said Canberra's chief executive Don Furner.

"I think Hull (sic) still have a game or two to go over there so it's probably unlikely they'd release their half-back, but you never know."

Furner's instinct proved spot-on with Hull KR coach Justin Morgan yesterday confirming that Dobson would be staying at Craven Park.

"Michael Dobson isn't going anywhere," said Morgan. "I have seen what's appeared in the Australian press, but no one has been in touch with me, not that there is any point making contact.

"'Dobbo' is under contract to us for another couple of years and I'm confident he'll want to see out that contract.

"I'm a little bit surprised because it's a massive U-turn by Canberra. First they tell the kid they don't want him and now they're trying to get him back.

"As much as I'd like to help, releasing Michael Dobson before this weekend or any other weekend would not be in the best interests of Hull Kingston Rovers."

Dobson was signed as a replacement for James Webster, the Australian scrum-half who led Rovers to promotion in 2006 and who suffered a serious shoulder injury earlier this year.

Webster joined Hull in June and is poised to make his debut at Craven Park on Sunday after finally receiving a UK passport which means he does not count on his new club's overseas quota.

"It has been a little frustrating, but you can't rush these things and you just have to remain patient," said Webster, who has taken up dual citizenship after marrying his Hull-born partner.

"Ideally, I would have liked to have played weeks ago, in fact the derby game at the KC in July would have been my choice.

"That didn't happen and I am now just glad I have the chance to play for Hull this season, especially as it looked as though I might have missed out altogether.

"One game is better than nothing and with it being a derby it will make it that much more special."

Webster is expected to line up alongside Richard Horne, who made his comeback after a five-month lay-off with a neck injury in Saturday's Challenge Cup final defeat by St Helens.

Hull's other half-back Adam Dykes, the injury-prone former Cronulla player, has suggested he could play this weekend after declaring himself fit for Wembley only to be left out on the advice of the club's medical staff.

Hull will definitely be without 18-year-old centre or winger Tom Briscoe after a scan disclosed that the injury which led to him being carried from the field on Saturday was ankle ligament damage and not a fractured tibia, as was first feared.

Leeds forwards Jamie Jones Buchanan and Ryan Bailey will undergo rigorous testing this week to determine whether they are fit enough to play in Friday's trip to Wakefield, when a bumper victory could see the Rhinos clinch the League Leaders' Shield if St Helens lose at home to Wigan.

Saints only need to avoid defeat to go into the play-offs in pole position while Wigan are acutely aware that defeat could see them drop from fifth to sixth if Bradford win at Castleford on Saturday, when fourth-placed Warrington host Huddersfield.

Should both Wigan and Warrington lose, victory on Saturday would see the Bulls climb to fourth and give them a home play-off against Warrington.

http://www.yorkshirepost.co.uk/rugby-le ... 4448458.jp