Two returnees, two interesting decisions. Willie Peters faces more selection headaches this week as Hull KR make the trip to Leigh Leopards looking to get back to winning ways.
The trip has been complicated by the absence of Mikey Lewis, who is unavailable as he completes the return to play HIA protocols. However, Danny Richardson is back from a loan spell at Salford Red Devils and beyond that, James Batchelor is available for selection after recovering from a throat injury.
Starting with the Lewis conundrum, it appears clear that Peters has one of two options; slot Richardson in as a direct replacement or move Jez Litten to the halves and recall Bill Leyland as a second hooker.
Peters perhaps hinted at his thinking immediately after the defeat to Leeds Rhinos when he admitted he felt Rovers had missed Litten’s run threat around the ruck. But at the same time, that is something Leyland would offer, too.
Due to Richardson’s recall, we suggest he will get the nod this weekend.
Making space for Batchelor is more complicated. With his return, Rovers now have a full-strength pack at their disposal and that brings with it some very tough calls.
It’s hard to see Batchelor not playing; it’s just who doesn’t.
The only strong evidence we have to work with are the three games that Rovers played before Rhyse Martin’s injury. In those games, Martin and Batchelor were the starting back-rowers, with Dean Hadley on a bench that also featured Jai Whitbread, Kelepi Tanginoa and Litten.
The man who wasn’t making the team at that time was Sam Luckley, and it’s worth nothing that Luckley took on the ‘shorter minutes’ role during the defeat to Leeds last time out.
With all three back-rowers available it does enable Dean Hadley to play the entire game in the front-row, which does mean there is less need for an extra middle on the bench.
A different alternative is Kelepi Tanginoa. Could Peters continue with Jai Whitbread in the back-row, recall Batchelor and play Rhyse Martin in the bench role? The Papua New Guinean is still working his way back to full fitness so taking the slot of Tanginoa, who generally comes on after 20 minutes, is another alternative.
That said, Peters is known to be consistent with his team selection and given that, we’re going with the evidence we’ve got our disposal, which would make Luckley the likely player to drop out.
Predicted Hull KR side : Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Jack Broadbent, Joe Burgess, Danny Richardson, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Michael McIlorum, Dean Hadley, James Batchelor, Rhyse Martin, Elliot Minchella. Subs: Jez Litten, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Jai Whitbread, Kelepi Tanginoa.