Hull KR dip into loan market to land St Helens forward amid injury crisis

The 22-year-old, who recently signed a contract extension with Saints for the 2023 season, trained with the Robins today and is in line to make his debut against Wakefield Trinity on Sunday.

Royle will also be available for the trip to Warrington Wolves on July 22.

The St Helens youth product made his Super League debut last September and has featured four times for the defending champions this season, including an outing as captain at Castleford Tigers.

If he plays for Rovers this weekend, it will be his first appearance since late April.

Hull KR have dipped into the loan market after Frankie Halton joined the club's lengthy injury list during last Sunday's derby defeat by Hull FC.

Fellow second-rower Dean Hadley, meanwhile, was due to sit out the Wakefield game through suspension before successfully appealing against his punishment for a late hit.

Hadley is set to be joined in the team by new boy Royle, a player who comes from good stock.

"He's from a fantastic environment at St Helens," said McGuire.

"He's played a handful of times in the first team this year and you don't get into St Helens' first team unless you've got the right mindset and attitude, and you can play.

"We were in a bit of a situation with Frankie getting injured and Dean potentially being suspended so we had to be proactive.

"If I'm being honest, not many players or clubs were forthcoming to help us out but Saints have been great and we really appreciate that.

"Sam has the opportunity to showcase what he's capable of. He's settled in with the boys and I'm looking forward to seeing what he can do."

Halton was originally ruled out for the rest of the season with what appeared to be a fractured collarbone.

But the forward's injury is not as bad as first feared and he could return in time for the closing stages of the Super League campaign.

"I was probably a little bit quick to write him off at the weekend," said McGuire, who is confident of having Ryan Hall and George King back available this week.

"He's got an AC collarbone issue. He's had an X-ray and there's no fracture there; we're thinking more ligament or a bad bone bruising type injury. The signs are it could be a lot better than first thought.

"I was probably a bit too overeager to write Frankie off. He's a tough kid and when it settles down I'm sure he'll put his hand up to get back out there."

The Robins have also lost prop Albert Vete from the team beaten by Hull at Magic Weekend.

"Albie is struggling with his groin," said McGuire.

"Somebody sort of pulled his legs apart and he's tweaked his groin. He's a bit sore and is having a scan."