Shaun Kenny-Dowall signs new one-year deal

James Messenger

Hull KR captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall has signed a one-year contract extension at the club. 

The former New Zealand international, 33, joined the Robins from NRL side Newcastle Knights ahead of the 2020 season and was named captain for 2021 back in March.

The experienced centre hasn’t missed a game for the club, and his excellent performances over recent weeks have been rewarded with a new 12-month deal.

Kenny-Dowall’s initial two-year contract was set to expire in November, but he will now remain at Craven Park until the end of the 2022 season.

“I’m overwhelmed, very happy and thankful to the club for extending my stay,” he said. “It’s nice to have my future secure.

“It’s credit to all the hard work I’ve done in the pre-season, it’s nice to be rewarded for that, to put behind me the shaky start here and bounce back means everything.”

Brad Takairangi (left) and Shaun Kenny-Dowall (right) of Hull KR
Brad Takairangi [left] and Shaun Kenny-Dowall [right] of Hull KR

Robins head coach Tony Smith added: “He has put in everything, and he has been great for us. He applies himself, he’s professional. When he speaks everybody listens because he is so respected, but he is good fun as well.

“I don’t think age is as big a thing as it used to be. For guys who look after themselves and particularly from an early age, you can see that they play well into their mid to late thirties.

“Shaun has been in that category for most of his career and that enables him to still produce.

“He’s been terrific. I would hope if he was on the right side, he would be just as good, but he has really enjoyed moving over to that left edge, and he has played a lot of his career over there. He’s comfortable there but he is aspiring to get better.”


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