Hull KR's Ethan Ryan overcomes "nerves" on try-scoring debut

However, he got his chance in yesterday’s game at Wigan Warriors and scored a fine try in the first half before the injury-ravaged eventually side fell 30-16.

“I was quite nervous before the game,” admitted the Halifax-born flier, who was so prolific in the second-tier with 87 tries in 98 games for Bradford.

“Obviously it’s a massive fixture coming to Wigan who are fighting near the top of the table.

“It’s always tough to play against a team like that.

“For Tony to give me the nod to start my first Super League game and to get over was a dream come true.

“I couldn’t get the smile off my face! I think we were quite unlucky not to win. “We were always just chasing in that second half and if we could have capitalised a bit more on our chances we could have come away with a shock.”

Ryan came in on the left wing for Crooks, who had scored seven tries already this term before suffering a neck injury in the loss against Castleford Tigers that will sideline him for at least two months.

The Ireland international hopes to retain his place for Sunday’s Challenge Cup game at Leigh Centurions.

“It’s obviously unfortunate what’s happened to Crooksie,” added Ryan.

“It’s given me a chance now to play a little bit.

“He was our top try-scorer so I’m going to have to come in and try to fill his boots because he was getting all our points and someone has to keep up with that!

“Hopefully that can be me and I can really get my games up and get a run in the team.”

He cerrtainly looked comfortable enough at Wigan in a game where Rovers - already missing eight regulars - trailed just 18-16 at one point in the second period.

“I just wanted to focus on getting things right defensively because they’re a flair team who like to throw the ball about quite a bit,” added Ryan.

“I thought our left edge of me, Kane (Linnett), Ryan (Brierley) and Harv (Livett) managed to nullify what they had to throw.

“It’s obviously unfortunate with the injuries we’ve been getting and there’s just been so many of them.

“But you’ve just got to battle through it and it does give people like me on the fringes a chance to play and prove what I can do.”

Rovers lost four further players to injury during the game - Joe Keyes, Matty Storton, Will Maher and Robbie Mulhern - so it was no surprise they slipped to a fifth successive defeat.

But the spirit and resolve among the Robins is unquestionable and they caused the leaders a number of problems.

Ryan added: “If you came into training, we’re not a team that looks like we’ve lost five on the bounce.

“The spirit and fight is still there and we’re positive about everything.

“The games we’re in are close and it’s keeping up that consistency that’s eventually going to get us that win.

“We’re just going to keep pressing until we do.”