The Robins currently sit in sixth
Hull KR know what needs to be done to keep their season alive(Image: SW Pix)
Hull KR have the opportunity to secure their spot in the Super League play-offs on Friday night when they take on Huddersfield Giants.
The Robins haven’t had the easiest few weeks and they approach the final two rounds of the Super League season on the back of three straight defeats.
Two of those losses came in the space of four days as KR struggled to handle the rearranged game and the knock on effect of that. And, with players visibly exhausted, Peters made the decision to travel to Wigan Warriors on Thursday night with a weakened side, with KR losing 46-0.
It means the club sit sixth in the Super League table at present, two points above St Helens in seventh and two points behind Leigh Leopards, who lost to Huddersfield on Friday night. Rovers know the likelihood is that they’ll be travelling, should they secure a play-off berth, and that means Friday night is now likely to be Willie Peters’ final game at Craven Park.
As such, the east Hull outfit will be going all out to seal the win over Huddersfield and doing so could get them over the line in the play-off race.
With that in mind, here’s a look at KR’s permutations heading into round 26.
To finish fourth
The highest KR can finish from this point is fourth but that looks severely unlikely from this point. The Robins would have to win both of their remaining games, with St Helens KR’s final day opponent, to stand a chance of being able to leapfrog Wakefield.
However, they’d also need Wakefield to lose against both Warrington Wolves and Leigh and Leigh to get beat by St Helens on Friday night.
To finish fifth
In order to claim fifth spot in the Super League table, KR simply have to better Leigh’s win tally over the remaining two games. Rovers’ points difference is far superior to the Leopards’, ensuring that if the two sides were to finish the season level on points, KR would sit above them in the table.
As such, if KR and Leigh both win this week, Peters’ side know they have to beat the Saints on the final day to give themselves a chance.
A single win between now and the end of the season would only be enough for fifth if Leigh were to lose both of their remaining games.
To secure a play-off spot
Rovers will definitely seal their spot in the play-offs if they beat Huddersfield Giants and St Helens lose at Leigh Sports Village. That would result in an unassailable four-point gap between sixth and seventh and keep the Robins’ season alive.
A St Helens defeat would all but secure KR’s spot in the play-offs anyway, in truth, regardless of how they get on against the Giants.
That’s because KR have a points difference of 239, compared to St Helens’ 36. That’s as good as an extra competition point and ensures the Merseyside outfit must win both of their remaining games to stand a chance of leapfrogging KR.
It’s not a risk KR will be willing to take heading into this week’s round of fixtures, but given they go to St Helens next week, whatever happens they will remain in charge of their own destiny.