Hull KR's Elliot Minchella makes Super League final vow after Dream Team delight

England loose forward, 28, faces a nervous wait to see if his ban can be reduced to allow him to play in club's Super League semi-final

Elliot Minchella will do anything he can to help Hull KR reach a maiden Grand Final - even if he’s banned from playing.

The Robins skipper copped a two-match suspension for a high tackle on Leigh’s Matt Moylan in the penultimate round of the regular season. He served the first game when his side beat Leeds on Friday to secure second-spot. But the England international will appeal the grading of the charge at a tribunal on Tuesday in the hope of having it halved and being freed up to play in next week’s semi-final.

Minchella said: “It’s out of my control now. Whatever decision is made I’ll just crack on and try and help my team-mates out however I can.”

The ex-Leeds and Bradford ace was speaking at the Dream Team launch today after being named in the mythical 13 for the first time in his career. He said: “I’m proud and privileged. It’s big. It’s definitely something I’m proud to achieve.

“As a kid it’s something you fantasise about [Dream Team selection]. I’m definitely pleased to be involved. I saw people like Paul Sculthorpe, Sam Burgess and Sean O’Loughlin. I don’t take it for granted and when I finish my career and look back I imagine I’ll be very proud.”

Minchella has been a talisman for the East Yorkshire club who are bidding to reach their maiden Grand Final. Securing second spot - their highest-ever Super League finish - means they are just 80 minutes away from Old Trafford. Minchella said: “It’s massive for the club to get that home semi.

“It's a reward for how we’ve done all year. It’s nice we’ve got that home semi and a week off. We’re pleased with where we’re at. But we’re excited for the play-offs now and a big semi-final. It is exciting.”

Rovers have reached the Super League semi-finals the last two years and missed out while they also made Wembley last season only to lose in the Challenge Cup final. What have they learned from those painful experiences ready to take into the business end of this Super League campaign?

Minchella said: “Just be consistent in what you do regardless of whether you’re playing in a big game, a semi-final, final or whatever that might be. Just be us. Be who we are. We’ve got an identity and stick to it. That’s probably what we’ve learned from our losses in the bigger games: be us and be consistent.

"That gets you to those games but it also wins you them.”