You just wonder whether Willie Peters might be tempted to play a team that will look familiar to the one he’ll be fielding in a Challenge Cup Final.
It’s not in the Australian’s nature to rest and rotate, he treats every opponent with respect and almost always plays the strongest team he possibly can. The most recent example of this point was at Magic Weekend, when only Jared Waerea-Hargreaves was given a rest against Salford a week before the Challenge Cup semi-final.
But injuries and player ineligibility mean the team he has to play at Wembley will look different to what is his strongest team in the three league games that come before the final. Arthur Mourgue is cup tied and so is Noah Booth.
So does Peters opt to give Jai Whitbread more game time in the back-row against Huddersfield Giants? Does he even give Jack Broadbent the fullback jersey?
It wouldn’t be a huge surprise if someone is given a rest to allow the likes of James Batchelor and Whitbread to play in their ‘Challenge Cup’ positions. Peta Hiku would be a candidate. He’s not missed a game this season so giving him a well-earned week off would accommodate Batchelor staying at centre and Whitbread moving to back-row as a result. With Jack Broadbent freed from the fullback role, he could then be the other centre.
A different option would be to rest another ever-present in Dean Hadley. That would then allow Whitbread to move to back-row and an opportunity could arise for Jack Brown or Eribe Doro.
Or is this a case of grossly overthinking things? Let’s face it, both Batchelor and Whitbread looked pretty tidy in unfamiliar positions. Is there a need to give them more time in their roles and is it worth it for the potential disruption to the team?
It’s perhaps a bold call, but we’re tipping a week off for Peta Hiku to allow Batchelor and Whitbread to get more familiar to their new positions and giving the Kiwi a well-earned break.
Predicted Hull KR team : Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Jack Broadbent, James Batchelor, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Dean Hadley, Jai Whitbread, Elliot Minchella. Subs: Sam Luckley, Jack Brown, Kelepi Tanginoa, Bill Leyland.