James Webster banking on tough times with Wakefield Wildcats to prepare him for Hull KR task

The Australian was in charge at Belle Vue for just 11 months, having stepped up from assistant when Richard Agar quit in June, 2014.

Webster helped them avoid relegation that year but last season was released in May after a run of 11 successive league defeats and a Challenge Cup exit at the hands of Championship Leigh.

Asked how that experience might help him now as he takes over at winless Rovers, Webster maintained: “There’s a similar size squad and a similar injury crisis to the one we had at Wakefield.

“It was a good learning curve for me there. Wakefield prepared me well for this job.

“Obviously, by stepping out it gave me time to have a good luck at how I did and what I did.

“It allowed me to go speak to some other coaches and watch them train through the back end of last year which was good.

“It gave me some time to reflect on what I thought I did well and what I thought I’d like to improve on.

“That’s made me a more confident and, hopefully, more polished coach and someone who can help this establishment out.”

Such a setback may have deterred other young coaches but Webster – only 36 and about to take charge of Hull KR in Sunday’s Super League game at Huddersfield Giants – never doubted he wanted to resume as a No 1.

“I enjoyed the experience and the pressure,” he added, having been in the role of City of Hull Academy chief for the last three months.

“Head coaching is no different to being a player; you want to test yourself against the best people in this country.

“Super League is a very good competition and I’m really looking forward to taking on Paul Anderson (Giants coach) and Huddersfield this weekend.

“They are a very well-coached side, who have been league leaders just a few years ago and were then pushing right until the last minute of last season to do so again.

“I’m looking forward to the challenge and excitement first-team rugby league obviously brings.”