Sky Sports pundit Jon Wilkin believes the League Leaders’ Shield is now Hull KR ’s to lose following Wigan Warriors’ defeat to Leigh Leopards.
The Robins ended their long wait for silverware just last month with the Challenge Cup triumph at Wembley, and they are now frontrunners to land their first-ever League Leaders’ Shield.
Willie Peters’ side have the chance to extend their lead to six points at the top of the table if they can defeat Leeds Rhinos on Sunday, after reigning champions Wigan fell to an 18-8 defeat at the Leigh Sports Village.
“I think it’s Hull KR’s to lose absolutely now,” Wilkin said. “I think that the buffer that Hull KR could build…Round 22 we were billing that as the moment where we find out. I don’t think we’re far off from finding out.”
Meanwhile, ex-England skipper and Catalans Dragons star Sam Tomkins has dubbed Hull KR as the best team in the competition right now.
Wigan have now lost four matches this campaign after 17 rounds, and were recently dealt a huge injury blow with the loss of superstar and 2023 Man of Steel Bevan French. Hull KR’s only defeat of the season came at the hands of the Warriors back in April.
Tomkins said: “I think Hull KR are the best side, and I think Wigan losing Bevan French, they’ve just lost that get out of jail card, that bit of brilliance that Bevan French comes up with, that nobody else in the competition can come up with.
“They’ve lost that, but they’ve still got a very good team. Wigan haven’t turned into a bad team, they’re in a bit of bad form, but they’re certainly not a bad team.”