| Venue: Craven Park Date: Friday, 29 September Kick-off: 20:00 BST Protection: Dwell on BBC 5 Sports activities Additional and BBC native radio, reside textual content on BBC Sport web site and app |
Shaun Kenny-Dowall is right down to single figures now on his farewell tour of rugby league.
The previous New Zealand worldwide, who has represented Sydney Roosters, Newcastle Knights and Hull KR throughout 405 video games in each hemispheres, will bow out as soon as his 2023 commitments are over.
Whether or not it’s this weekend, when Leigh Leopards come to Craven Park within the Tremendous League eliminators, or whether or not the journey continues maybe so far as Outdated Trafford and a Grand Closing, that closing sport is looming.
However the 35-year-old shouldn’t be fascinated about that. It is perhaps his final sport on house turf, however in any other case the main focus is only on the collective, not the person.
“It is a large honour each time you get to run on the market, however I do not see it as that,” Kenny-Dowall advised BBC Radio Humberside when requested about it being a possible closing outing.
“I see it because the journey we’re taking as a membership and as a crew, the place we’re on this competitors and that is been my essential focus.
“It is only a blessing, I am very grateful to get to do it at Craven Park the place I spent the final 4 years, working on the market, our followers are unbelievable and it does provide you with goosebumps.
“Hopefully we are able to use that to our benefit as a result of it has been a very long time since we performed a house play-off sport.”
It isn’t as if Kenny-Dowall is slowing down both. Again-to-back Dream Group appearances are proof that even in his mid-30s, the Nationwide Rugby League premiership winner stays a potent weapon.
Legendary coach John Kear advised the 5 Dwell rugby league podcast he would have wined and dined the veteran to get him to go round once more, such has been the shape proven.
But, the Brisbane-born three-quarter is adamant – that is it.
“I used to be lucky I made my determination fairly early on,” Kenny-Dowall stated.
“I have not deviated from that, I am nonetheless very content material with the choice and I am now placing my full concentrate on ending the season as greatest I can.”
Leaving a legacy on the Robins
Robins followers have seen some worldwide favourites at Craven Park in years passed by, from the Nineteen Eighties big-name arrivals akin to Gavin Miller, Gary Prohm, Mark Broadhurst and John Dorahy, to newer signings akin to Michael Dobson, Terry Campese and Clint Newton.
Nevertheless, such is the affect that Kenny-Dowall has made, head coach Willie Peters believes he’s “one in all, if not the most effective” when it comes to Robins imports.
With such an asset stepping apart, it will have been comprehensible if Peters had tried to alter his thoughts.
“It is a type of the place, hopefully we are able to do one thing particular over the following few weeks, however regardless, he is nonetheless going out on the prime of his sport, individually,” Peters stated.
“For those who do go one other pre-season, will he nonetheless be the identical participant subsequent yr? You do not know.
“He is setting himself up for all times after rugby, he is acquired a very essential function for us subsequent season as a growth coach, and an assistant coach as nicely.
“He’ll assist with our pathways and getting as many academy gamers by means of and in addition serving to our fringe first-grade gamers to assist them alongside as nicely.”
Respect from the opposition
Hull KR and Leigh have develop into acquainted foes this season, having met thrice within the Tremendous League by means of loop fixtures, and most famously within the Problem Cup closing.
One in every of Leigh’s key influences has been Lachlan Lam who, like Kenny-Dowall, was additionally chosen within the Dream Group – one in all 5 Leopards to make the lower.
Lam, 25, was a Roosters fan rising up and like his coach and father Adrian went on to play for the membership, simply as Kenny-Dowall did.
“I used to be solely a bit child then and he was ball-boying, when he was enjoying on the wing and centre on the Roosters,” Lam advised BBC Sport.
“I used to hold about coaching there, he was round, there was a core group of them there then – together with Mitchell Pearce who can be retiring this yr.
“It is fairly cool to play towards these guys, I might have cherished it to be with them at some stage as a result of they have been my idols rising up, I cherished the Roosters and people boys.
“What they and specifically Skids [Kenny-Dowall] have finished of their profession, it’s totally particular, he is extremely adorned and has been unbelievable for rugby league.”
There’s equal mutual admiration of Lam and his team-mates from the Rovers camp, given their frequent skirmishes in 2023.
Residence benefit was solely secured courtesy of a heavy win at Wakefield, whereas Leigh have been simply edged out by common season leaders Wigan on the ultimate weekend.
“We have performed them loads of occasions this yr, so we all know what to anticipate,” Kenny-Dowall added. “We cannot have to take action a lot preview, which is a constructive.
“They have some nice gamers, there’s a bit little bit of a rivalry there and hopefully we are able to proper some wrongs from the Wembley disappointment.
“You must give kudos to them, from the place they’ve come within the Championship.
“They’re an awesome crew and each time we have performed them it has been a fierce battle, I am positive Friday will likely be no completely different.”