Hull KR assistant coach Danny Ward's 'plan B' message after captain Elliot Minchella's ban confirmation

Hull Kingston Rovers assistant coach Danny Ward admitted disappointment at the disciplinary verdict on captain Elliot Minchella - but has shifted the focus on to "cracking on with plan B" now. Rovers captain Minchella had his ban for the upcoming play-off semi-final upheld for a second time on Friday, as the club launched the second challenge it was entitled to, after the player's punishment for a high shot on Leigh Leopards' Matt Moylan. The previous Rovers game against Leeds Rhinos was the first of Minchella's two-game ban - with Dean Hadley moving from starting at prop in the game at Leigh to loose forward against Leeds to cover for the absence.

Prop Jai Whitbread also worked his way through an impressive and big stint against Leeds as Rovers adjusted to the loss of their captain, while winning 26-16 and booking next weekend's home semi-final. Former Great Britain prop Ward, asked about the Minchella verdict, said: "It's one of those things. It's not gone our way, it's disappointing but we know where we are now, and we can crack on with plan B.



Everyone knows where they stand. And it's an opportunity for someone else to stand up and step into Mini's shoes. He's been great for us this year.

But that's why we have got a quality squad. We are confident that other people can jump in." On the forwards' workload, he said: "We have got some lads out there playing big minutes.

Mini is one. And Dean Hadley week in week out has been pushing out 70s, 80s. It's unbelievable the numbers that you get.

And the work-rate while they are out there. And they are not easy games, they have been in some real tough games. "If we do want to give them a rest, you've got to grab them off kicking and screaming sometimes.

It's hard work when you try to send (assistant coach) Brett Delaney on to try to get Dean Hadley off for a rest. He is fuming - he doesn't want to come off! "Jai Whitbread has stepped up in the absence of Mini and punched out some big minutes as well. It's a tough game in that middle and we have got lads who are fit and even in the business end of the year they can do the job well.

"If the quality dropped, we wouldn't keep them out there but they are able to maintain that in some high-intensity games. All the pack have been fantastic this year and deserve a lot of credit for how we've been doing. "I'm sure the week without a game this week won't do us any harm.

It can be intense week in week out, it can take its toll, so it's good to switch off at times. We can come in bouncing on Monday and have a big week." Absence means a chance to step up - and Ward spoke about the squad effort by saying: "There are only 17 lads who are happy each week who are playing and the rest are always going to be disappointed but you want to have that environment and that culture where they don't sulk, they don't kick stones, they come in and train hard each week and are ready to take that opportunity.

In training they are trying to impress us, they are trying to put one over their team-mates and everyone is bringing the best out of each other. That's what you want to create." Click here - Get the latest news on our Rugby League Live WhatsApp channel.