Dobson insists impact of working with legendary Jones still playing part in his career with Hull KR

The Australian recently became only the eighth player to pass 1,000 points for Rovers and will look to inspire a fifth successive win when they host Catalan Dragons this evening.

It was with the French club that Dobson got his first taste of Super League as a raw 19-year-old back in 2006. He had joined on loan from Canberra Raiders after fellow No 7 Jones, Catalan’s brilliant marquee signing for their debut season, suffered a broken arm.

“Six years on, it all feels quite a while ago since I was with them,” Dobson told the Yorkshire Post.

“I was just starting out back then but it was definitely a good experience in my life. I really enjoyed my time there and learned a lot. It was massive (for my development). It gave me a chance to be seen over here in England but also an opportunity to work with Stacey Jones. He was just a great half-back and I was able to pick his brains while I was in France which was invaluable.”

It is easy to now see Jones’ influence in the play of Dobson who has become a Super League star since joining Rovers in 2008.

However, he insists there has been no eureka moment to prompt their current resurgence – a win tonight would see them move to within a point of third-placed Catalan – just a new-found ability to eke out narrow victories.

“Winning the close ones has been the difference,” he added. “Earlier in the year, a lot of close matches saw us lose in the last 20 minutes but we are starting to win those games now.

“We’re just a little more consistent. If we keep doing that, hopefully we’ll move up and put ourselves in contention.”

They lost by just two points to Catalan in the Challenge Cup but a last-gasp 32-30 victory over Hull FC, followed by a 23-22 success over much-fancied Warrington, illustrates his point.

Dobson then broke the 1,000 point mark in a quality display at Huddersfield in which he outplayed Danny Brough.

“When we go like that, we can match nearly every team in this competition,” added the 26 year-old, who, given the injury to Wigan’s Thomas Leuluai, must be contending for an Exiles call-up.

Rovers’ finest Super League finish was fourth under Justin Morgan in 2009, the year Dobson’s masterful direction saw him earn a place in the Dream Team.

If they can continue at their current rate of progression they have every chance of eclipsing that.

York City Knights player-coach Chris Thorman, 31, will leave at the end of the season to become Huddersfield Giants assistant.

Thorman enjoyed four seasons at Huddersfield, captaining them in the 2006 Challenge Cup final.

He rejoins and links up with current Giants assistant Paul Anderson who succeeds Nathan Brown as head coach for 2013.

Ex-Leeds Rhinos and Great Britain centre Keith Senior, 36, has started pre-season training with Leeds Carnegie, hoping to earn a contract with the rugby union club.