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Hull KR v Wakefield Trinity LIVE: Robins looking to get back to winning ways in Super League
On paper, this should be Hull KR’s “easiest” game so far this season. However, as the great football manager Brian Clough once said, “The game is played on grass.”
There are no straightforward games in Super League and going into a home clash against a team sat at the bottom of the division poses different challenges. There’s an expectation Rovers will win tonight and some sections of the fanbase will be expecting a high score. It could go that way. Of course it could. However, Wakefield Trinity is battling to keep their top-flight status alive and every game for them now is do or die.
After their win against Leeds Rhinos a fortnight ago, they are breathing down the necks of bitter rivals Castleford Tigers. Andy Last’s men are down on troops and low in confidence, and they host Warrington Wolves this week and are underdogs going into that contest in West Yorkshire. That adds more fuel to the fire; Wakefield may have only one win in 15, but they are just four points behind the team in 11th. Motivation in itself.
That said, Willie Peters summed the situation up perfectly in his pre-match press conference. Respect Wakefield, but tonight offers Rovers a chance to build on their success in the Challenge Cup last time out and rejuvenate their Super League playoff push after four defeats on the bounce.
That’s what this evening is, a perfect chance to get back on the horse, get in the winners’ circle and produce another good outing in front of a Craven Park crowd full of beans after booking their semi-final tickets and dreaming of that day out to Leeds next month. As we’ve mentioned a few times this week, the next four games are pivotal for the Robins, and a 75% win rate or 100% this month would be massive in the long run. All tough hurdles but ones that Rovers can get over.
Wakefield will have a lot of players coming over to East Hull for the first time tonight, and it’s imperative Mikey Lewis and Rowan Milnes build a good platform, use their strike players in the right places and be in control throughout the contest. Don’t give Trinity a sniff. Stay composed in defence, then pounce with ball in hand.
Former FC skipper Luke Gale is set to make his debut tonight, he will be rusty after two months out injured, so putting pressure on him early will also go along way to winning the contest.
The forecast is saying it’s going to be a warm, dry surface come kick-off that will suit the Robins to a tee. Their forwards are more agile than Trin’s, and the likes of George King and Elliot Minchella can tire Wakefield’s pack out in the opening stages, which will allow the men in the halves and on the flanks to capitalise on fatiguing defenders.
A debut for Fouad Yaha is expected, with Tanguy Zenon ready to continue his form at fullback. All roads should lead to a Rovers win, but Hull KR cannot let complacency creep in, and they know if they turn up and play the Rovers way, they have a great chance to secure another two points in the Super League.
