After the disappointment of last week’s Challenge Cup final, Hull KR will be out to bounce back this weekend as they travel to Wakefield Trinity in Super League.
It’s not an easy game by any stretch of the imagination and memories of KR’s loss at Belle Vue in September will still be fresh in Willie Peters’ mind.
Wakefield are level on points with Rovers in the Super League table and they are certainly hard to beat, with Daryl Powell’s side being well drilled defensively and dangerous with the ball in hand.
As such, Willie Peters knows his side will have their work cut out this week, but after being hammered at Wembley last Saturday, the clash will also be a huge test of character for the Robins.
Here’s how we think both sides will line up.
Peters will be forced into at least one change to his starting line-up this week with Dean Hadley dropping out the fold due to the head injury he picked up just three minutes into last weekend’s cup final. He failed to return to the action after failing a HIA and won’t be eligible to be involved this week.
Peters is likely to look Rhyse Martin’s way to start in the back-row and he might also be tempted to bring Karl Lawton back into the fold to start at hooker.
Lawton played that role well leading into the cup final, with Litten stepping off the bench midway through the first half, but the versatile hooker missed out at Wembley.
Mikey Lewis appeared to pick up an injury in the cup final after getting his ankle caught in a tackle. However, he has been passed fit to play and he’ll be keen to impress at Belle Vue.
Jai Whitbread is likely to be involved this week after missing the trip to London due to his pregnant partner being close to her due date.
And, with Jack Brown making the switch to Castleford Tigers, Peters could be set to hand a debut to Tevita Pangai Jr. The forward has been training with KR for a couple of weeks now and he may well be fit enough to come off the bench in West Yorkshire.
Powell is likely to go with something close to the side that won at Toulouse a couple of weeks ago. However Tom Johnstone has been named in the fold and could make his first appearance since mid-April after injuring his Achilles.
Harvey Smith’s craft and guile around the ruck could be key late in the game, too, so it wouldn’t necessarily be a surprise to see the hooker come back into the fold.
Predicted Wakefield Trinity v Hull KR teams
Wakefield Trinity: Josh Rourke; Oliver Pratt, Cam Scott, Corey Hall, Tom Johnstone; Jake Trueman, Mason Lino; Mike McMeeken, Tyson Smoothy, Ky Rodwell; Seth Nikotemo, Isaiah Vagana, Jay Pitts.
Bench: Jazz Tevaga, Caleb Hamlin-Uele, Caius Faatili, Harvey Smith
Hull KR: Jack Broadbent; Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess; Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May; Sauaso Sue, Karl Lawton, Tom Amone; James Batchelor, Rhyse Martin; Elliot Minchella.
Bench: Jez Litten, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Tevita Pangai Jr.