Whitehead is short-term fix - not a permanent solution

HULL KR's move for Tom Whitehead follows a general recruitment trend we've seen from Rovers for some time.

- By MATT SHAW

The Robins have had a bid accepted from Warrington to sign the forward, who now appears set to link up with the club in 2026.

Whitehead will join a growing list of players the club has recruited under 24. In the last 18 months, Jack Broadbent, Jack Brown, Eribe Doro, Bill Leyland, Ajahni Wallace, Leon Ruan and Noah Booth have all been signed at a young age. Connor Wynne and Jumah Sambou, fellow recruits for next year, fall under that category too.

It's not a coincidence. It's a strategic move from in part being enforced on KR but also a nod to a template that has worked for them in the past.

The reality is simple, Rovers' big failing is the lack of academy players coming through. Mikey Lewis is the only success story, he's the only homegrown talent that has featured for the Robins this season.