HULL KR coach Craig Sandercock has credited his senior players for steering his side through their recent adversity – and expects them to continue doing so.
Rovers cast off their club-record 84-6 defeat to Wigan on Easter Monday by beating St Helens 22-14 at MS3 Craven Park yesterday.
Sandercock welcomed back leading try-scorer Dave Hodgson, influential second rower Cory Paterson and skipper Michael Dobson for the visit of Nathan Brown's side and they were needed.
Hodgson opened the scoring for the Robins, with Paterson adding another in the second half and Dobson having a hand in all four tries Rovers scored.
"Michael and Cory Paterson are the heartbeat of this team," Sandercock said. "To have them playing was a big boost.
"Dave Hodgson is another class player and having them all in the side was a massive help.
"We have been through adversity for the last 18 months and I'm sure there will be more hard times to come in the future."
That adversity may come as the club faces a somewhat uncertain period ahead, as chairman Neil Hudgell has warned he is not in a position to continue bankrolling the club after this season.
Rovers may not have been at their best against St Helens, but they didn't need to be.
However, the game was still in the balance until Craig Hall's 80th-minute penalty secured victory.
"I'm very pleased with the efforts of the players although it wasn't pretty," Sandercock added.
"We didn't execute as well as we would have liked, but it was a very gritty performance.
"The boys defended really well and showed effort and commitment."
CENTRE Liam Salter will undergo tests on his hamstring injury this week.
