Emerging talent help Sandercock clinch new contract

Many observers expected the Australian to be discarded when his current deal expired at the culmination of this season given the inconsistencies his side have shown during his 18-month tenure.

However, Rovers have acknowledged the relentless injury problems the former Newcastle Knights assistant has encountered since moving from the NRL and pinpointed his work ethic and ability to promote the club’s youngsters as reasons for extending his contract.

Although Hull KR failed to make the play-offs in Sandercock’s first season, Friday’s impressive win over second-placed Huddersfield saw them move up to seventh, leaving them in an encouraging position with nine fixtures to go.

That followed an emphatic win over Bradford Bulls which lifted them into the play-off spots and, with three players included among the Exiles to face England on Friday, the squad is certainly gaining confidence.

“We’re delighted Craig has agreed to stay,” said Hull KR chief executive Mike Smith after the 44-year-old finally agreed terms following lengthy talks.

“I don’t think he’s had his strongest side out on the park once since arriving but has battled on and got the team into a good position as we stand.

“He lives and breathes the game and is rarely away from the training pitch or his desk.

“The players themselves will tell you his attention to detail is second to none and a lot of the one-on-one work he’s done with individuals is starting to bear fruit.

“One of Craig’s primary aims was to develop our younger players and you only have to look at the progress the likes of Liam Salter, Jordan Cox, Rich Beaumont, James Green and George Griffin have made to see that he’s achieved that.

“He’s put a lot of structures in place that will serve us long into the future and deserves the opportunity to continue what he’s started. The most successful clubs during the Super League era have enjoyed that stability at the top and with Craig’s future now sorted, we can start planning ahead for 2014.”

Sandercock has come under intense pressure during his stay.

Hull KR have played plenty of entertaining football but their defensive frailties, leaking an average of almost 30 points per game, have often proved their undoing.

He is addressing that and said: “I’ve said all along I’d love to stay. There is no quick fix as you have to put systems and structures in place and that’s what we’ve been doing. With the amount of promising, young talent we have, I firmly believe that this great club has a very bright future and I’m obviously keen to play a part in that.”