Hull KR sweat on injured duo ahead of Challenge Cup semi-final

Drew Darbyshire
Tony Smith Hull KR

Hull KR coach Tony Smith says they will wait to find out the extent of injured duo Lachlan Coote and Sam Wood ahead of next week’s Challenge Cup semi-final.

The Robins face Huddersfield in the Challenge Cup semi-finals next Saturday but they could be without star full-back Lachlan Coote and outside-back Sam Wood.

The pair left the field during their 12-0 defeat to Leeds in Super League on Friday night.

Scotland international Coote didn’t return to action after leaving the field for a HIA. Smith confirmed that Wood is likely to miss the Huddersfield clash with a knee injury.

Speaking after the game at Headingley, Smith said: “Lachlan is fine now. He just spoke to the team, but what is of concern is how he will be for next week – we certainly weren’t going to put him back out.

“Sam Wood’s knee is a concern. He doesn’t think it’s his ACL, he thinks it’s another part of his knee, but I’d be surprised if he’s available for next week.”

Hull KR boss Tony Smith not making excuses for Leeds defeat

Tries from Matt Prior and Morgan Gannon helped the Rhinos secure their second win on the spin.

Smith said: “We were flat from the start, just sloppy in some of our execution but that can happen after Easter, so I’m not going to flog these boys by any means.

“We’ve come up against a team who were really terrific in terms of their enthusiasm, who were quicker to the bounce of the ball. They threw a heap of fresh legs in there and it worked for them today.”

Rhinos interim Jamie Jones-Buchanan took charge of his final game before new head coach Rohan Smith arrives next week. Leeds do not have a game next weekend due to it being the Challenge Cup semi-finals.

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