Litten benefitting from tough love as relationship explored

HOOKER CONTINUES TO DEVELOP UNDER COACH WILLIE PETERS

- By JAMES SMAILES

IN the embryonic stages of last season when Hull KR's goal-kicking issues seemed to be the big talking point, a standout performance with the boot helped Rovers to beat Leeds Rhinos at Craven Park.

The boot belonged to Jez Litten, who thanks to some eye-catching touchline conversions took home the man of the match award, as well as all the plaudits.

In truth the goal kicking was the side show blinding some to Litten's impressive display as he caused panic in the Rhinos defence and was a livewire around the ruck, with and without the ball. What followed soon after the match in the bowels of the stadium while Litten celebrated overhead in one of Craven Park's lounges was telling and stuck in the mind.

There was praise for Litten's display by his coach Willie Peters, but it came with a sense it was laced with a small amount of frustration. Perhaps frustration is wrong, maybe a warning, but there was a feeling this was a coach wanting to keep his player grounded.

Peters' tone in the unquestionable praise was that of a proud coach, his words centred around Litten having much more to come, a bright future but needing to work on a few areas.

It was a sense of a coach offering the carrot and stick at the same time.