Saints look to improve Craven Park record

James Gordon

St Helens haven’t enjoyed the best record at Craven Park in recent years, and coach Royce Simmons wants that to change on Sunday.

Saints take their 100% record to Hull KR at the weekend, looking to follow up last Friday’s come-from-behind victory against Salford, which was the first competitive match to be held at their new Langtree Park stadium.

They haven’t beaten Hull KR at Craven Park in Super League since 2007, but Rovers will be without influential scrum half Michael Dobson through injury.

Simmons told the club’s official website: “I know we haven’t had a great record at Hull KR although we won a Cup game there a few years back. 

“It’s always a tough place to go anyway. The crowd is pretty vocal and it’s a bit of trip to get there. But at the end of the day they are excuses aren’t they?

“We have to turn up in the right frame of mind and prepare well. Control is important. 

“Both their halves are out, but they played for a long time without them last week and won. They have a massive pack of forward and big carriers of the ball. We will need to match that.”

Simmons has a number of injury doubts, with Lee Gaskell, Gary Wheeler, James Roby and Andy Dixon all nursing minor knocks following the game against Salford.