Million pound Robinson has final word

'I commend Coventry for the way they played but our decision-making left a lot to be desired. I'd rather Jason was running with the ball than our big second row forwards. We're very conscious of his ability and he will make it in rugby union much sooner than everyone thinks.'

If Robinson had felt more than a touch bemused about what he had let himself in for, everyone at Heywood Road would have sympathised.

He did not waste a single opportunity to show he was pleased to be there on a day when, despite doling out 800 free pies and as many cans of beer to those who bought tickets in advance, the crowd was no more than 2,547.

Coventry, deservedly 11-10 ahead at half-time, made it far more difficult than anyone expected.

Robinson will need to learn new skills and, in at least one sense, changing the habits of a lifetime - releasing the ball in the tackle instead of holding on to it.

Coventry took all of 12 seconds to hoist the first of only two high kicks in his direction, neither carrying the remotest danger of man and ball arriving simultaneously.

In a busy first half he made the most of what came his way, seizing the occasional pass and retrieving the less occasional punt without once failing to beat at least one tackle before running into a stacked defence.

The best of his trademark runs took him dodging past four opponents, one of the game's few illuminating moments.

'After all the attention, just getting a try in my first game was brilliant,' he said. 'The most difficult thing is to get to grips with what the team are doing. Until I know that, I can't support them as much as I'd like. This is all about the team doing well and we're just happy to be adding something.'

The 'we' referred to his fellow League convert, Apollo Perelini, the Samoan back in his more natural union habitat at No. 8 after helping St Helens win the Grand Final, even if a late high tackle meant he failed to go the distance.

'In League you've got to really hammer someone before they sin-bin you,' he said, disputing the yellow card. 'All I did was slap the guy in the face.'

The victim, James Hayter, may have thought otherwise and Andy Smallwood, Coventry's most consistent finisher, had squeezed in at the corner before his opposite number had the last word.