AT the start of the season, Rovers made it clear they wanted to improve on last season.
Let's face it, there was no alternative.
A return of 21 points and 10th place in Super League wasn't the record rookie coach Craig Sandercock wanted to start his coaching career.
But with seven games left this year, Sandercock has already taken Rovers past their points tally from last season.
Whatever happens, this has been a great season for Rovers and their coach.
With his first goal of improvement achieved, Sandercock can set his sights on finishing in the top six and giving the play-offs a really good go. They are currently sixth and such lofty ambitions could hardly have been imagined when KR slumped to a 38-34 defeat at Salford, despite holding a 20-point lead.
Since then, they have turned their fortunes around thanks to an incredible belief in the squad, including four wins from four in the month of June.
Plenty of coaches would have crumbled given the adversity thrown at Sandercock this season.
Financial uncertainty and star players leaving has made life uncomfortable for the 44-year-old coach.
But he has got the best out of his players to become Super League's in-form side with 10 points from a possible 12. Realistically, it should have been more had it not been for Steve Ganson's bad call in the Etihad derby.
Since then Rovers have swept past all before them, including difficult trips to Toulouse and St Helens.
They are a team with momentum and in form at the right time.
Credit goes to Sandercock and his players for rolling their sleeves up and digging deep for one another to turn potential negatives into massive positives.
Look through the squad and you will find positives everywhere.
At full-back, Greg Eden could have gone into his shell after his misjudgment in the Etihad derby helped Hull steal the points. Since then he has shown great character to come back stronger. His 300 metres in Toulouse was the first time in 10 years anyone had racked up that many metres.
Feeding him the ball more often than not is stand-off Travis Burns who is showing tremendous form alongside Michael Dobson. He has shown leadership qualities that will make him an early favourite to take the skipper's armband off the departing Dobson.
It's no coincidence that when Burns plays, Rovers are meaner in defence. His competitiveness equates to Rovers conceding an average 14.9 points fewer per game when he plays.
Burns and Dobson can only unlock defences and create chances if their forwards are winning the battle in the middle.
The pack have been immense with Mickey Paea showing he intends to leave the Robins on the highest possible note. Anyone who doubted his commitment after announcing he was joining Hull has been made to eat their words. Paea has made over 100 metres in 16 of the 20 league games he has played this season and averages 8.22 metres a carry.
Those are the numbers every prop should be striving towards and while Rovers will miss Paea next season, they will benefit greatly from the form he is showing now.
On the back of these three performers, Rovers can finish in their highest position since 2009.
