HULL KR: Time's a healer for optimistic Colbon

HULL KR's Liam Colbon knows better than most the importance of getting a good pre-season under your belt.

This time last year the winger joined Rovers from Wigan hoping to hit the ground running.

In a manner of speaking, that led to problems.

When he was doing the unwanted, but necessary, running around pitches, his feet felt fine.

But when he put his gear on for training sessions on the pitch, that was when the problems arose.

The trainers he was wearing injured his Achilles heel and pushed his programme back a bit. By his own admission, it wasn't until several weeks into the new season that the problem was cured and his heels were healed.

This time around he has made sure his trainers aren't going to leave him in pain.

"It's the first thing I did," Colbon told the Mail.

"The trainers I wore shortened my Achilles and I needed a heel-raiser. That disrupted my pre-season and I don't want that to happen this year.

"This time of year is massively important and while we don't particularly like it, we know it has to be done. The more we do now, the easier it will get and during the course of the season the fewer injuries you tend to pick up."

After recovering from his foot injuries, Colbon went on to have a good season for the Robins.

As part of a trusted back three that included Shaun Briscoe and Peter Fox, Rovers had one of the best kick return units in the league. But the 25-year-old knows KR will have to develop that part of their game as teams will soon work out a way of stopping them.

Colbon added: "Last season we did well as a trio but we can't rely on that next season.

"We are working on how to develop it further and we have loads of ideas floating around."

Colbon is looking forward to his second season at Craven Park knowing he needs to score more tries. Nine in 25 games is a little below the minimum requirement for a Super League winger and Colbon is hoping next season is a more profitable one.

"I know I have areas of my game I need to work on, but I'm pleased with how things went. Hopefully the second season will be even better and I'm sure it will be."