Morrison heaping praise on his young Wildcats

The club, hit with a four-point deduction due to entering administration, remain in 13th place despite picking up four wins this season.

They enjoyed a morale-boosting success at Castleford Tigers on Good Friday, ending their derby rivals’ 100 per cent home record, but were kept scoreless by champions Wigan Warriors on Easter Monday.

Hull KR, meanwhile, have the same amount of victories but are 11th – a position Morrison has in his sights.

“We’ve got confidence, as we showed by beating Cas,” he said.

“Wigan are obviously one of the best sides in the comp and that was a tough match.

“But now we’re up against a side who are in and around us.

“It’s probably a must-win if we’re going to jump up the table.”

The veteran Australian has shrugged off a dead leg to play both Easter matches and is confident of being able to exert his influence tomorrow.

However, the durable loose-forward is impressed by the continuing development of those young players coach John Kear signed over the winter before the club got the financial lift created by Andrew Glover’s takeover.

“They are showing signs of becoming really good players,” said Morrison.

“It was always going to take young boys like that time to find their feet but they have.

“Paul Johnson is playing 60-odd minutes in the front-row every game and is in the top five in Super League for ‘hit-ups’ and metres made.

“Chris Dean is getting better each week out in the centres while, in the middle, Stuart Howarth is tackling his backside off at loose-forward. Now we all want to build against Rovers.”

The East Yorkshire club managed to pick up a rare win when they defeated Harlequins on Monday but are still dogged by the off-field drama of the Willie Mason affair.

“I played with Willie for a couple of rep’ sides back home,” said Morrison. “I thought at the start of the season both Hull teams would be up in the top six.

“They have quality there but have probably struggled a little bit.

“Wille’s been de-registered now but it helps them having Michael Dobson back.

“He guides them around the park and we know we must stop him to beat Rovers.”

Huddersfield Giants attempt to strengthen their hold on top spot when they take on Catalan Dragons in Perpignan this evening, bolstered by the return of England duo Luke Robinson and Leroy Cudjoe.

Catalan have winger Frédéric Vaccari, centre Daryl Millard and second row Steve Menzies back from injury and prop David Ferriol also returns.