# 2017 Hull Kingston Rovers season

The 2017 season was Hull Kingston Rovers' first and only consecutive season playing in England's second division of rugby league. During the season, they competed in the 2017 RFL Championship, securing immediate promotion back to the Super League, and the 2017 Challenge Cup.
Following the sacking of head coach Chris Chester during the 2016 season, Hull Kingston Rovers announced in September 2016 that former Australia national rugby league team and Wests Tigers coach Tim Sheens would be the club's head coach from the 2017 season onwards.

## Preseason friendlies

| Date and Time | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Report |
| 8 January; 15:00 | Hull F.C. | A | KCOM Stadium | W | 40–16 | Quinlan, Ellis, Addy, Hodgson, Heffernan, Oakes, Milton | (7/7) | Unknown | |
| 20 January, 14:30 | Leeds Rhinos | A | Emerald Headingley Stadium | L | 4–30 | | (0/1) | Unknown | |

## Championship
### Fixtures

| Date and Time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance | Pos. |
| 5 February, 15:00 | Round 1 | Bradford Bulls | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 54–24 | Heffernan (2), Scruton (2), Donaldson, Shaw, Greenwood, Ellis, Quinlan | Ellis (9/9) | | 3rd |
| 12 February, 15:00 | Round 2 | London Broncos | A | Trailfinders Sports Ground | W | 28–22 | Abdull, Ellis, Moss, Heffernan, Shaw | Ellis (4/5) | | 3rd |
| 19 February, 15:00 | Round 3 | Rochdale Hornets | A | Crown Oil Arena | W | 28–18 | Minns (2), Moss, Heffernan, Lunt | Ellis (4/5) | 2,012 | 1st |
| 26 February, 15:00 | Round 4 | Oldham R.L.F.C. | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 48–0 | Minns (2), Lunt, Donaldson, Scruton, Abdull, Ellis, Moss | Ellis (8/8) | | 1st |
| 5 March, 15:00 | Round 5 | Sheffield Eagles | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 50–10 | Donaldson (2), Cockayne, Heffernan, Minns, Quinlan, Clarkson, Abdull | Ellis (8/8 + 1 pen.) | | 1st |
| 12 March, 15:00 | Round 6 | Dewsbury Rams | A | Tetley's Stadium | W | 48–6 | Heffernan (2), Lunt, Greenwood, Blair, Mulhern, Donaldson, Horne | Ellis (8/8) | 2,477 | 1st |
| 26 March, 15:00 | Round 7 | Halifax Panthers | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 28–14 | Blair, Greenwood, Abdull, Moss | Ellis (4/4 + 2 pen.) | | 1st |
| 2 April, 15:00 | Round 8 | Batley Bulldogs | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 50–16 | Shaw (2), Salter (2), Moss, Heffernan, Minns, Clarkson, Donaldson | Ellis (7/9) | | 1st |
| 9 April, 15:00 | Round 9 | Swinton Lions | A | Heywood Road | W | 52–18 | Donaldson (3), Hodgson, Abdull, Ellis, Dockar-Clay, Oakes, Scruton, Shaw | Ellis (6/10) | | 1st |
| 14 April, 15:00 | Round 10 | Featherstone Rovers | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 30–22 | Quinlan, Clarkson, Cockayne, Shaw, Hodgson, Blair | Ellis (3/6) | | 1st |
| 17 April, 15:00 (BST) | Round 11 | Toulouse Olympique | A | Stade Ernest-Argelès | L | 6–14 | Heffernan | Dockar-Clay (1/1) | | 1st |
| 30 April, 15:00 | Round 12 | Rochdale Hornets | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 6–14 | Lawler, Shaw, Lunt, Kavanagh | Ellis (4/4) | | 1st |
| 7 May, 15:00 | Round 13 | Batley Bulldogs | A | Fox's Biscuits Stadium | W | 68–4 | Shaw (3), Heffernan (2), Dockar-Clay (2), Butler-Fleming (2), Mulhern, Abdull, Ellis, | Ellis (10/12) | | 1st |
| 21 May, 15:00 | Round 14 | Swinton Lions | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 42–18 | Shaw (3), Abdull (2), Wardill, Heffernan | Dockar-Clay (7/7) | | 1st |
| 27 May, 19:00 (Summer Bash) | Round 15 | Bradford Bulls | N | Bloomfield Road | W | 20–19 | Heffernan (2), Abdull | Ellis (3/3 + 1 pen.) | 11,557 | 1st |
| 4 June, 15:00 | Round 16 | Featherstone Rovers | A | LD Nutrition Stadium | D | 20–20 | Shaw, Abdull, Moss, Ellis | Ellis (2/4) | | 1st |
| 11 June, 15:00 | Round 17 | Oldham R.L.F.C. | A | Vestacare Stadium | W | 32–24 | Wardill (2), Shaw (2), Lunt, Abdull | Ellis (4/6) | | 1st |
| 18 June, 15:00 | Round 18 | Dewsbury Rams | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 64–11 | Shaw (3), Heffernan (2), Salter (2), Ellis, Cockayne, Abdull, Cator, Addy | Ellis (8/12) | | 1st |
| 25 June, 15:00 | Round 19 | Sheffield Eagles | A | Beaumont Legal Stadium | W | 40–18 | Carney (2), Clarkson, Butler-Fleming, Scruton, Shaw, Lunt, Dockar-Clay | Ellis (4/8) | | 1st |
| 2 July, 15:00 | Round 20 | London Broncos | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 40–22 | Moss (2), Jewitt, Heffernan, Addy, Dockar-Clay, Mulhern | Ellis (6/7) | | 1st |
| 9 July, 15:00 | Round 21 | Bradford Bulls | A | Provident Stadium | W | 42–10 | Addy (3), Butler-Fleming, Carney, Clarkson, Mulhern | Ellis (7/7) | | 1st |
| 16 July, 15:00 | Round 22 | Toulouse Olympique | H | KCOM Craven Park | L | 30–31 | Addy, Lunt, Quinlan, Clarkson, Butler-Fleming | Ellis (5/5) | | 1st |
| 23 July, 15:00 | Round 23 | Halifax R.L.F.C. | A | The Shay | L | 6–28 | Moss | Ellis (1/1) | | 1st |

### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Hull Kingston Rovers (X) | 23 | 19 | 1 | 3 | 850 | 385 | +465 | 39 | The Qualifiers |
| 2 | London Broncos | 23 | 18 | 0 | 5 | 832 | 410 | +422 | 36 | The Qualifiers |
| 3 | Halifax | 23 | 16 | 0 | 7 | 567 | 357 | +210 | 32 | The Qualifiers |
| 4 | Featherstone Rovers | 23 | 15 | 1 | 7 | 687 | 421 | +266 | 31 | The Qualifiers |
| 5 | Toulouse Olympique | 23 | 15 | 0 | 8 | 720 | 466 | +254 | 30 | Championship Shield |
| 6 | Batley Bulldogs | 23 | 11 | 0 | 12 | 549 | 663 | −114 | 22 | Championship Shield |
| 7 | Sheffield Eagles | 23 | 10 | 0 | 13 | 568 | 785 | −217 | 20 | Championship Shield |
| 8 | Dewsbury Rams | 23 | 8 | 0 | 15 | 388 | 736 | −348 | 16 | Championship Shield |
| 9 | Rochdale Hornets | 23 | 7 | 1 | 15 | 457 | 680 | −223 | 15 | Championship Shield |
| 10 | Swinton Lions | 23 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 477 | 648 | −171 | 12 | Championship Shield |
| 11 | Oldham | 23 | 5 | 1 | 17 | 410 | 735 | −325 | 11 | Championship Shield |
| 12 | Bradford Bulls | 23 | 6 | 0 | 17 | 500 | 719 | −219 | 0 | Championship Shield |
* ↑ Bradford Bulls deducted 12 points on 3 January 2017 for entering administration.

## The Qualifiers

| Date and Time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| 6 August, 15:00 | Q1 | Halifax Panthers | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 26–22 | Moss (2), Marsh, Lawler, Scruton | Ellis (3/5) | 7,706 |
| 12 August, 15:15 | Q2 | Leigh Centurions | A | Leigh Sports Village | W | 20–16 | Lunt (2), Shaw | Ellis (3/3 + 1 pen.) | 5,335 |
| 20 August, 15:00 | Q3 | London Broncos | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 35–30 | Shaw (2), Addy, Moss, Mulhern | Ellis (5/5 + 2 pen.) Drop-goals: Atkin | 7,235 |
| 3 September, 15:00 | Q4 | Featherstone Rovers | A | LD Nutrition Stadium | W | 30–18 | Shaw, Addy, Ellis, Minns, Heffernan | Ellis (4/5) | 4,583 |
| 9 September, 15:15 | Q5 | Widnes Vikings | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 12–6 | Minns, Shaw | Ellis (2/2) | 8,227 |
| 15 September, 20:00 | Q6 | Catalans Dragons | H | KCOM Craven Park | L | 19–20 | Oakes, Cockayne, Lawler | Dockar-Clay (2/2), Atkin (1/1) Drop-goals: Atkin | 7,405 |
| 23 September, 15:00 | Q7 | Warrington Wolves | A | Halliwell Jones Stadium | L | 46–24 | Oakes (2), Shaw (2) | Ellis (4/4) | 10,466 |

### Table

| Pos | Teamvte | Pld | W | D | L | PF | PA | PD | Pts | Qualification |
| 1 | Warrington Wolves | 7 | 7 | 0 | 0 | 288 | 138 | +150 | 14 | Super League XXIII |
| 2 | Widnes Vikings | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 188 | 96 | +92 | 10 | Super League XXIII |
| 3 | Hull Kingston Rovers (P) | 7 | 5 | 0 | 2 | 166 | 158 | +8 | 10 | Super League XXIII |
| 4 | Leigh Centurions (R) | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 203 | 104 | +99 | 8 | Million Pound Game |
| 5 | Catalans Dragons | 7 | 4 | 0 | 3 | 130 | 143 | −13 | 8 | Million Pound Game |
| 6 | London Broncos | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 174 | 220 | −46 | 3 | 2018 Championship |
| 7 | Featherstone Rovers | 7 | 1 | 1 | 5 | 110 | 272 | −162 | 3 | 2018 Championship |
| 8 | Halifax | 7 | 0 | 0 | 7 | 82 | 210 | −128 | 0 | 2018 Championship |

## Challenge Cup

| Date and time | Round | Versus | H/A | Venue | Result | Score | Tries | Goals | Attendance |
| 19 March; 15:00 | Round 4 | Sheffield Eagles | H | KCOM Craven Park | W | 48–10 | Lunt (2), Minns, Quinlan, Blair, Cockayne, Ellis, Greenwood | Ellis (8/8) | 3,408 |
| 22 April; 15:00 | Round 5 | Leigh Centurions | A | Leigh Sports Village | W | 23–10 | Shaw (2), Lawler, Greenwood | Ellis (3/4) Drop-goals: Ellis | 9,152 |
| 12 May; 20:00 | Round 6 | Salford Red Devils | A | AJ Bell Stadium | L | 14–24 | Lunt (2) | Ellis (2/2 + 1 pen.) | 11,163 |

## Transfers
### Gains

| Player | Club | Contract | Date |
| Nick Scruton | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | | October 2016 |
| Danny Addy | Bradford Bulls | 1 Year + 2 Years | October 2016 |
| Mitch Clark | Bradford Bulls | 1 Year + 2 Years | October 2016 |
| Jake Butler-Fleming | Wentworthville Magpies | 1 Year | December 2016 |
| Adam Quinlan | St George Illawarra Dragons | 2 Years | December 2016 |
| George Milton | Doncaster R.L.F.C. | | 2017 |
| David Hodgson | Retirement | | January 2017 |
| Kieren Moss | Bradford Bulls | 1 Year | January 2017 |
| Ben Kavanagh | Bradford Bulls | 2 Years | January 2017 |
| Josh Johnson | Redcliffe Dolphins | 1 Year | March 2017 |
| Zach Dockar-Clay | Penrith Panthers | | March 2017 |
| Justin Carney | Salford Red Devils | 1 Year | May 2017 |
| Lee Jewitt | Townsville Blackhawks | 1 1⁄2 Years | June 2017 |
| Chris Atkin | Swinton Lions | End of season | July 2017 |
| Mose Masoe | St Helens R.F.C. | End of season | July 2017 |

### Losses

| Player | Club | Contract | Date |
| Stephen Holker | N/A | Released | April 2016 |
| John Boudebza | N/A | Contract voided | October 2016 |
| Terry Campese | N/A | Contract voided | October 2016 |
| Josh Mantellato | N/A | Contract voided | October 2016 |
| Dave Thompson | Leigh Centurions | 2 Years | October 2016 |
| James Green | Leigh Centurions | 2 Years | October 2016 |
| Iain Thornley | Catalans Dragons | 2 Years | October 2016 |
| Adam Walker | St Helens R.F.C. | 2 Years | October 2016 |
| Ken Sio | Newcastle Knights | 2 Years | October 2016 |
| Kieran Dixon | London Broncos | 2 Years | November 2016 |
| Albert Kelly | Hull F.C. | 1 Year | November 2016 |
| Mitchell Allgood | Wakefield Trinity Wildcats | 1 Year | December 2016 |
| Dane Tilse | N/A | Retirement | January 2017 |
| Kevin Larroyer | Castleford Tigers | 1 Year | February 2017 |

### Loans

| Player | Club | Loan period | Date |
| Jordan Abdull | Hull F.C. | Season-long | November 2016 |
| Jamie Ellis | Huddersfield Giants | Season-long | November 2016 |
| Andrew Heffernan | Penrith Panthers | Season-long | December 2016 |