# 2016 Hull Kingston Rovers season

The 2016 season was Hull Kingston Rovers' tenth consecutive season playing in England's top division of rugby league. During the season, they competed in the 2016 Super League season and the 2016 Challenge Cup.

## Preseason friendlies

| Date and Time | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
| 25 January; 15:00 | Hull F.C. | A | KCOM Stadium | L | 20–60 | Dixon (2), Mantellato | | 8,962 | |

## Super League
### Fixtures

| Date and Time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Pos. |
| 7 February, 15:00 | Round 1 | Castleford Tigers | H | Craven Park | D | 16–16 | Mantellato (2), Donaldson | Mantellato (2/3) | 11,011 | 8th |
| 14 February, 15:00 | Round 2 | Warrington Wolves | A | Halliwell Jones Stadium | L | 8–38 | Thornley, Dixon | Dixon (0/1), Kelly (0/1) | 11,037 | 9th |
| 21 February, 15:00 | Round 3 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | H | Craven Park | L | 12–14 | Dixon, Walker, Sio | Dixon (0/2), Shaw (0/1) | 7,207 | 9th |
| 26 February, 20:00 | Round 4 | St. Helens | H | Craven Park | L | 22–31 | Cockayne, Blair, Green, Shaw | Shaw (3/4) | 6,517 | 10th |
| 4 March, 20:00 | Round 5 | Widnes Vikings | A | Select Security Stadium | L | 22–31 | Blair, Minns, Shaw | Shaw (2/3) | 6,517 | 11th |
| 13 March, 15:00 | Round 6 | Huddersfield Giants | A | Galpharm Stadium | L | 6–38 | Minns | Shaw (1/1) | 5,610 | 12th |
| 20 March, 15:00 | Round 7 | Salford Red Devils | H | Craven Park | W | 44–30 | Blair, Thornley, Horne, Sio, Greenwood, Shaw, Marsh | Mantellato (8/8) | 6,593 | 10th |
| 25 March, 12:45 (Good Friday) | Round 8 | Hull F.C. | H | Craven Park | L | 20–22 | Shaw, Sio, Thornley | Mantellato (2/3 + 2 pen.) | 11,050 | 11th |
| 28 March, 20:00 | Round 9 | Wigan Warriors | A | DW Stadium | L | 16–30 | Thornley (2), Horne | Dixon (2/3) | 11,268 | 10th |
| 1 April, 20:00 | Round 10 | Leeds Rhinos | A | Headingley Carnegie Stadium | W | 30–10 | Lunt (2), Dixon, Cockayne, Allgood, Mulhern | Dixon (2/4), Cockayne (1/1) | 15,384 | 10th |
| 7 April, 20:00 | Round 10 | Catalans Dragons | H | Craven Park | L | 0–40 | | | 6,764 | 10th |
| 24 April, 15:30 | Round 11 | Castleford Tigers | A | Mend-A-Hose Jungle | W | 58–16 | Minns (3), Thornley (2), Sio (2), Blair, Kelly, Horne, Allgood | Cockayne (7/11) | 7,106 | 10th |
| 30 April, 15:00 | Round 12 | Salford Red Devils | A | AJ Bell Stadium | L | 26–44 | Minns (2), Blair, Thornley, Sio | Sio (2/5), Blair (1/5) | 3,048 | 10th |
| 15 May, 15:00 | Round 13 | Widnes Vikings | H | Craven Park | W | 24–10 | Lunt, Sio, Greenwood, Kelly | Cockayne (4/4) | 7,506 | 10th |
| 22 May; 17:30 (Magic Weekend) | Round 14 | Hull F.C. | N | St James' Park | L | 16–28 | Lunt, Horne | Terry Campese (2/2 + 2 pen.) | 28,945 | 10th |
| 28 May; 17:00 (BST) | Round 15 | Catalans Dragons | A | Stade Gilbert Brutus | L | 16–34 | Larroyer, Wardill, Sio | Sio (2/3), Kelly (1/1) | 9,859 | 10th |
| 2 June; 20:00 | Round 16 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | A | Belle Vue | W | 54–16 | Dixon (3), Kelly (2), Greenwood (2), Lunt, Green, Blair | Sio (7/10) | 5,082 | 10th |
| 10 June; 20:00 | Round 17 | Wigan Warriors | H | Craven Park | L | 18–20 | Kelly, Minns, Allgood | Sio (3/3) | 7,507 | 10th |
| 17 June; 20:00 | Round 18 | St Helens | A | Langtree Park | L | 18–20 | Lunt, Clarkson, Minns | Dixon (2/3) | 9,488 | 11th |
| 1 July; 20:00 | Round 19 | Warrington Wolves | H | Craven Park | D | 16–16 | Donaldson, Minns, Thornley | Cockayne (2/3) | 6,827 | 11th |
| 8 July; 20:00 | Round 20 | Huddersfield Giants | H | Craven Park | W | 20–19 | Marsh, Kelly, Lawler | Cockayne (3/3 + 1 pen.) | 6,434 | 10th |
| 14 July; 20:00 | Round 21 | Hull F.C. | A | KCOM Stadium | L | 12–36 | Walker, Thornley | Mantellato (2/2) | 17,481 | 10th |
| 21 July; 20:00 | Round 22 | Leeds Rhinos | H | Craven Park | L | 20–24 | Marsh, Blair, Sio, Dixon | Mantellato (2/3) | 8,109 | 11th |

### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hull F.C. | 23 | 17 | 0 | 6 | 605 | 465 | +140 | 34 | Super League Super 8s |
| 2 | Warrington Wolves | 23 | 16 | 1 | 6 | 675 | 425 | +250 | 33 | Super League Super 8s |
| 3 | Wigan Warriors | 23 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 455 | 440 | +15 | 32 | Super League Super 8s |
| 4 | St Helens | 23 | 14 | 0 | 9 | 573 | 536 | +37 | 28 | Super League Super 8s |
| 5 | Catalans Dragons | 23 | 13 | 0 | 10 | 593 | 505 | +88 | 26 | Super League Super 8s |
| 6 | Castleford Tigers | 23 | 10 | 1 | 12 | 617 | 640 | −23 | 21 | Super League Super 8s |
| 7 | Widnes Vikings | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 499 | 474 | +25 | 20 | Super League Super 8s |
| 8 | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 485 | 654 | −169 | 20 | Super League Super 8s |
| 9 | Leeds Rhinos | 23 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 404 | 576 | −172 | 16 | The Qualifiers |
| 10 | Salford City Reds | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 560 | 569 | −9 | 14 | The Qualifiers |
| 11 | Hull Kingston Rovers | 23 | 6 | 2 | 15 | 486 | 610 | −124 | 14 | The Qualifiers |
| 12 | Huddersfield Giants | 23 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 511 | 569 | −58 | 12 | The Qualifiers |
* ↑ Following this fixture, head coach Chris Chester was sacked and replaced by assistant coach Willie Poching for the next two rounds.
* ↑ Following this fixture, James Webster was appointed as interim head coach for the remainder of the season.
* ↑ Salford deducted 6 points for salary cap breaches in 2014 and 2015.

## The Qualifiers

| Date and Time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| 7 August, 15:00 | Q1 | Batley Bulldogs | H | Craven Park | W | 58–18 | Minns (3), Greenwood (2), Thornley, Marsh, Cockayne, Blair, Mantellato | Mantellato (9/11) | 6,684 |
| 12 August, 20:00 | Q2 | Leeds Rhinos | A | Headingley Carnegie Stadium | L | 18–22 | Greenwood, Donaldson, Lawler | Mantellato (3/3) | 14,180 |
| 19 August, 20:00 | Q3 | Salford Red Devils | A | AJ Bell Stadium | W | 29–12 | Mantellato, Greenwood, Sio, Minns | Mantellato (6/6 + 2 pen.) Drop-goals: Kelly | 2,074 |
| 3 September, 15:00 | Q4 | Leigh Centurions | H | Craven Park | L | 18–25 | Sio, Mantellato, Marsh | Mantellato (3/3) | 7,363 |
| 11 September, 15:00 | Q5 | London Broncos | A | Trailfinders Sports Ground | W | 58–18 | Minns (3), Marsh (2), Cockayne, Dixon, Greenwood, Donaldson, Jubb | Mantellato (9/10) | 1,215 |
| 18 September, 15:00 | Q6 | Featherstone Rovers | A | Bigfellas Stadium | W | 32–24 | Mantellato (2), Minns (2), Lunt, Greenwood | Mantellato (4/6) | 4,034 |
| 24 September, 12:30 | Q7 | Huddersfield Giants | H | Craven Park | L | 22–23 | Blair, Sio, Allgood, Thornley | Mantellato (3/4) | 8,024 |

### Million Pound Game

| Date and Time | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
| 1 October, 15:00 | Salford Red Devils | H | Craven Park | L | 18–19 (g.p.) | Walker, Mantellato, Minns | Mantellato (3/3) | 6,562 | |
This match resulted in Hull Kingston Rovers' relegation from the Super League after ten consecutive years into the RFL Championship. Following Gareth O'Brien's match-winning drop goal, a pitch invasion took place that resulted in fighting between fans and stewards that eventually required police intervention. Following a RFL investigation, in February 2017, Hull Kingston Rovers were fined £25,000 (£20,000 suspended) after the RFL found the club guilty of breaking ground safety rules and failing to control their supporters.

### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Leeds Rhinos | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 239 | 94 | +145 | 12 | 2017 Super League |
| 2 | Leigh Centurions (P) | 7 | 6 | 0 | 1 | 223 | 193 | +30 | 12 | 2017 Super League |
| 3 | Huddersfield Giants | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 257 | 166 | +91 | 10 | 2017 Super League |
| 4 | Hull Kingston Rovers (R) | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 235 | 142 | +93 | 8 | Million Pound Game |
| 5 | Salford Red Devils | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 208 | 152 | +56 | 6 | Million Pound Game |
| 6 | London Broncos | 7 | 3 | 0 | 4 | 221 | 212 | +9 | 6 | 2017 Championship |
| 7 | Batley Bulldogs | 7 | 1 | 0 | 6 | 111 | 318 | −207 | 2 | 2017 Championship |
| 8 | Featherstone Rovers | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 96 | 313 | −217 | 0 | 2017 Championship |

## Challenge Cup

| Date and time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
| 16 April; 14:00 | Round 5 | Oldham Roughyeds | H | Craven Park | L | 22–36 | Dane Tilse (2), Lunt, Blair, Wardill | Cockayne (1/4) | 3,056 | |

## Transfers
### Gains

| Player | Club | Contract | Date |
| Thomas Minns | Leeds Rhinos | 3 Years | July 2015 |
| Iain Thornley | Wigan Warriors | 2 Years | August 2015 |
| Shaun Lunt | Huddersfield Giants | 4 Years | August 2015 |
| Kevin Larroyer | Catalans Dragons | 3 Years | September 2015 |
| Chris Clarkson | Leeds Rhinos | 3 Years | October 2015 |
| James Greenwood | Wigan Warriors | 2 Years | October 2015 |
| Ryan Shaw | Bradford Bulls | 2 Years | October 2015 |
| Robbie Mulhern | Leeds Rhinos | 2 Years | December 2015 |
| Will Oakes | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 2 Years | December 2015 |
| Jamie Peacock | Retirement | | September 2016 |

### Losses

| Player | Club | Contract | Date |
| Michael Weyman | N/A | Retirement | March 2015 |
| Keal Carlile | Sheffield Eagles | 1 Year | March 2015 |
| Darrell Goulding | N/A | Retirement | June 2015 |
| Connor Robinson | Halifax R.L.F.C. | 1 Year | July 2015 |
| Tyrone McCarthy | St. George Illwarra Dragons | 2 Years | September 2015 |
| Greg Burke | Wigan Warriors | End of loan | September 2015 |
| Dane Chisholm | Canterbury Bulldogs | End of loan | September 2015 |
| Tony Puletua | N/A | Retirement | September 2015 |
| Sonny Esslemont | Keighley Cougars | 1 Year | October 2015 |
| Josh Guzdek | Dewsbury Rams | 1 Year | October 2015 |
| Jamie Langley | N/A | Retirement | October 2015 |
| Aaron Ollett | Keighley Cougars | 1 Year | October 2015 |
| Macauley Hallett | Swinton Lions | 1 Year | October 2015 |
| Kris Welham | Bradford Bulls | 2 Years | November 2015 |
| Jordan Cox | Warrington Wolves | 1 Year | November 2015 |

## Squad
### Appearances
#### Super League

| FB=Fullback | C=Centre | W=Winger | SO=Stand-off | SH=Scrum half | PR=Prop | H=Hooker | SR=Second Row | L=Loose forward | B=Bench |
| No | Player | 1 | 2 | 11 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 12 | 13 | 14 | 15 | 16 | 17 | 18 | 19 | 20 | 21 | 22 | 23 | S1 | S2 | S3 | S4 | S5 | S6 | S7 | SF |
| 1 | Ken Sio | FB | W | W | W | W | W | W | W | C | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 2 | Josh Mantellato | W | | | | | | W | W | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 3 | Liam Salter | | | C | C | C | | | | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 4 | Iain Thornley | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | C | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 5 | Kieran Dixon | | W | W | | | | | | FB | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 6 | Terry Campese | | | | | | B | | | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 7 | Albert Kelly | SH | SH | SH | SH | | | | SH | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 8 | Adam Walker | x | B | P | P | P | P | P | P | B | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 9 | Shaun Lunt | | | | | | H | | | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 10 | Mitchell Allgood | P | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | L | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 11 | Maurice Blair | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | SO | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 12 | Graeme Horne | SR | SR | SR | SR | | SR | SR | SR | SR | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 13 | Chris Clarkson | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | SR | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 14 | Kevin Larroyer | | | | | | | | | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 15 | James Donaldson | B | B | | | | | | | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 16 | James Green | B | P | B | B | | B | B | B | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 17 | Dane Tilse | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | P | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 18 | Ben Cockayne | W | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | FB | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 19 | John Boudebza | B | | | | | B | B | B | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 20 | James Greenwood | L | | B | B | SR | B | B | B | SR | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 21 | Thomas Minns | C | C | | | B | C | | | | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 22 | Matty Marsh | x | x | x | x | SH | SH | SH | x | SH | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 23 | Ryan Shaw | x | x | B | W | W | W | C | C | W | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 24 | George Lawler | H | H | H | H | H | x | H | H | H | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 25 | Steven Holker | x | B | x | B | B | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 26 | Robbie Mulhern | B | B | B | B | B | | B | B | P | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 27 | Will Oakes | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | W | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 28 | Keiran Moran | x | x | x | x | B | x | x | x | B | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 29 | Joe Wardill | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | B | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| 30 | Joe Cator | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | B | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
= Injured
= Suspended

#### Challenge Cup

| FB=Fullback | C=Centre | W=Winger | SO=Stand Off | SH=Scrum half | P=Prop | H=Hooker | SR=Second Row | L=Loose forward | B=Bench |
| No | Player | 5 |
| 1 | Ken Sio | x |
| 2 | Josh Mantellato | x |
| 3 | Liam Salter | x |
| 4 | Iain Thornley | x |
| 5 | Kieran Dixon | x |
| 6 | Terry Campese | x |
| 7 | Albert Kelly | x |
| 8 | Adam Walker | x |
| 9 | Shaun Lunt | x |
| 10 | Mitchell Allgood | x |
| 11 | Maurice Blair | x |
| 12 | Graeme Horne | x |
| 13 | Chris Clarkson | x |
| 14 | Kevin Larroyer | x |
| 15 | James Donaldson | x |
| 16 | James Green | x |
| 17 | Dane Tilse | x |
| 18 | Ben Cockayne | x |
| 19 | John Boudebza | x |
| 20 | James Greenwood | x |
| 21 | Thomas Minns | x |
| 22 | Matty Marsh | x |
| 23 | Ryan Shaw | x |
| 24 | George Lawler | x |
| 25 | Steven Holker | x |
| 26 | Robbie Mulhern | x |
| 27 | Will Oakes | x |