Coote ready to get rocking with Robins

When Lachlan Coote pulls on a Hull Kingston Rovers jersey for the first time on Friday evening and steps out onto the field for their 2022 Betfred Super League opener at home to Wigan Warriors, he will be hoping it goes better than his first experience at Hull College Craven Park.

The full-back was still plying his trade in the NRL for North Queensland Cowboys when he lined up for Scotland - Coote qualifies for the Bravehearts through his grandmother - against Australia in the 2016 Four Nations, only to finish on the wrong side of a 54-12 defeat.

Nevertheless, it has always been a venue Coote enjoyed playing at since moving to Super League for a successful three seasons with St Helens and now he is savouring the opportunity to play there on a regular basis following his switch to the Robins on a two-year contract.

"That didn't go too well for Scotland against Australia," Coote said, recalling his first time playing in East Hull. "But it's a good ground to play at.

"I like the atmosphere they create here, and I think when we rocked up here for St Helens [last season], it was a really tight game until the end. The fans were always respectful in every way and that's what I like about it.

"I sort of got a taste of it last week against Huddersfield Giants at home [in a pre-season match]. It's a great little fanbase and I'm looking forward to getting out there."

Coote's three campaigns with Saints yielded three Super League Grand Final winners' rings and a Challenge Cup winners' medal, and he was an integral part of those successes along with becoming a firm fans' favourite at Totally Wicked Stadium.

He joins a Hull KR team which was the surprise package of the competition in 2021 though, going from finishing bottom of the