Hull KR face crucial Elliot Minchella contract talks that will deliver statement about long-term ambitions

In less than three weeks, players across Super League who are off-contract at the end of the season will be free to speak to rival clubs. Among them is Hull KR vice-captain Elliot Minchella.

The forward has proven to be one of Rovers' major recruitment triumphs since the beginning of their new regime but now they face the very real risk of losing him ahead of the best years of his career. It is a risk they simply cannot afford to run.

The 26-year-old's return from a serious ACL injury has been remarkable, with his two-try performance in the Challenge Cup quarter-final capping a superb return to form after near 12 months on the sidelines. But it is inevitable that with his return to action, there are other clubs across the competition that have circled his name or underlined it in red marker.

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Hindsight is wonderful and Rovers may now wish they had tied him down to a new contract before waiting to see how he performed after such a significant injury. Not only will interest have spiked but so will his salary cap value. Minchella is still on the same contract he signed after his move from Bradford Bulls and his stock has sky-rocketed since then. If they can get a deal done, it will be a pricy contract extension.

Yet despite only just coming back into the fold, it feels like Rovers can ill-afford to lose him. Rovers' superb run to the play-off semi-finals last year meant Minchella's absence wasn't obvious, but having him back in the side has reminded everyone what they missed when he was gone.

But Rovers' need to retain Minchella is more about outlining their long-term ambition than it is enhancing their team. When the club scrapped its old