KR captain Minchella says ban 'difficult to accept'

Elliot Minchella has made 99 appearances in all competitions for Hull KR since joining in 2020

Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella says it was "difficult to accept" the two-game ban that ruled him out of the last stages of the team's route to this weekend's Super League Grand Final.

The 28-year-old was sin-binned for a high tackle on Matt Moylan in the win over Leigh Leopards in KR's penultimate game of the 2024 regular Super League season and received a grade C head contact charge.

His subsequent ban - ruling him out of their victory over Leeds Rhinos and last week's play-off semi-final against Warrington - was challenged on two occasions by the club, with the suspension being upheld both times.

"I love going to work with my team-mates every day and going into battle with them every week," Minchella told BBC Sport.

"It's been difficult to accept, but I had a job to do and that was to do everything I could to help the team win and, whatever that looked like, I had to do."

Minchella was one of two Hull KR players, along with Man of Steel-winning scrum-half Mikey Lewis, to be named in the Super League Dream Team for 2024 off the back of a stellar season and is relieved to be back in time for Saturday's showpiece at Old Trafford.

"I was trying to pass on tips and advice and things like that, but I just rocked up with a smile on my face," he added.

"I tried to be energised and be me regardless of the situation, but I'm glad it's over and I can help the team on the field because that's what I want to do."

'We've got our hat in the ring'

Unlike many who reach the pinnacle of the domestic game in the northern hemisphere having plied their trade exclusively in Super League or the NRL, Minchella came to Hull KR in 2020 after playing extensively in the Championship with Sheffield Eagles and Bradford Bulls.

In his four seasons with the Robins, he has experienced extreme ups and downs as the club have bounced back from finishing bottom of the table in his first season, reaching the 2023 Challenge Cup final and then tussling with Wigan Warriors for this season's League Leaders' Shield.

Now Minchella and KR have a huge game ahead.

"It [the Grand Final] is an occasion I've never played in and a new one for me but I'm proud to be part of it," he said.

"It's a new ground and I'll go into it with enjoyment and soak it all up. I'll be smiling if I've got a ring on my finger come full-time, but I'm looking forward to playing again and getting out there with my team-mates."

Under Willie Peters, Hull KR have transformed themselves into one of the most formidable teams of the current era, losing just twice at Craven Park in 2024 with only one of those defeats coming inside 80 minutes.

Despite their impressive form of late, they are yet to lift any trophies to match their efforts, something Minchella is aware of.

"We've had a good year so far, we had a top-two finish but we haven't won any silverware," he said.

"We've come up short on two occasions with the other trophies that have been on offer for us and we've not achieved.

"There's one more to go at and we've got our hat in the ring."