Challenge Cup preview: Wigan v Hull KR

Hull KR travel to the Leigh Sports Village to face Wigan for the second time this month, hoping for a different outcome to the Super League game on May 1.

That contest ended 60-0 to the Warriors. Rovers were without most of their first-choice middle unit forwards on that occasion, however, and were also missing playmaker Terry Campese.

Campese returns to the KR squad, along with some forward power, and coach Chris Chester will be hoping for an upset.

Shaun Wane has stated that this is his club’s biggest game of the season, as he looks to win more trophies.

Wigan winger Josh Charnley is expected to feature for the Warriors for the first time in eight weeks, having recovered from an ankle problem. Ben Flower is also included in the squad, but Dom Manfredi misses out with an ankle injury.

For Rovers, Maurice Blair and Sonny Esslemont come into the squad to replace youngsters Connor Robinson and Josh Guzdek.

Prediction: A full-strength Hull KR beat Wigan at the KC Lightstream Stadium earlier this season, and that result will be the one to note, rather than the later thrashing. Technically at a neutral venue, Wigan will work hard to beat Rovers by six points.

Wigan (19-man squad): Bateman, Bowen, Burgess, Charnley, Crosby, L Farrell, Flower, Hampshire, McIlorum, Mossop, O’Loughlin, Patrick, Powell, Sarginson, Smith, Sutton, Tautai, J Tomkins, Williams.

Hull KR (19-man squad): Blair, Boudebza, Campese, Cockayne, Cox, Dixon, Donaldson, Esslemont, Green, Horne, Kelly, Larroyer, McCarthy, Mantellato, Ollett, Sio, Tilse, Walker, Welham.

Stats:

Wigan have the longest winning streak in Super League, having won their last five matches. Their last defeat was 24-18 at Salford on 6 April.

Hull KR are seeking their first Challenge Cup win against Wigan since 1980, in the first meeting in the competition between the sides at the DW Stadium. Wigan have won their last seven home meetings with Hull KR. The Robins’ last away win against the Warriors was 20-12 on 15 May, 2009.

Previous Challenge Cup meetings:

2013 (Round 5) Hull KR 14 Wigan 46
1990 (Round 1) Hull KR 4 Wigan 6
1985 (Semi-Final) Hull KR 11 Wigan 18 (at Elland Road, Leeds)
1980 (Round 1) Wigan 13 Hull KR 18
1963 (Semi-Final) Hull KR 4 Wigan 18 (at Headingley, Leeds)
1953 (Quarter Final) Wigan 25 Hull KR 6

2015 meetings:

Wigan 60 Hull KR 0 (SLR13, 1/5/15)
Hull KR 22 Wigan 20 (SLR3, 1/3/15)