SL Preview: Bradford v Hull KR

John Bateman, Adrian Purtell and Jamie Foster all return for Bradford ahead of their clash with Hull KR on Sunday.

Purtell is in the squad for the first time since suffering a heart attack following the Magic Weekend defeat by Leeds last May, while Bateman returns after having a shoulder reconstruction over the close season.

Foster is fit to return after missing the draw at Widnes, but Matty Blythe, Matt Diskin and Jamie Langley are all missing through injury.

Bulls coach Francis Cummins said: “Michael Dobson is a very special player for them and now they have got Travis Burns on the field it gives them a twin threat at half.

“They also have a big pack of Forwards and when you talk about getting a roll on – and Widnes got on one last week – then watch out if Hull KR manage that because they have some very big truckers in there.”

Bradford 19-man squad: Donaldson, Sidlow, O’Brien, Manuokafoa, Bateman, Wood, Kearney, Scruton, L’Estrange, Purtell, Lulia, Whitehead, Kear, Sammut, Addy, Olbison, Walker, Murphy, Foster.

Hull KR 19-man squad: Salter, Brown, Walker, Horne, Griffin, Paterson, Mika, Tuimavave, Welham, Burns, Hall, Paea, Carlile, Cox, Dobson, D Hodgson, Eden, Lovegrove, J Hodgson.

Prediction: Tough to call, should be high scoring, Bradford to edge it – home win.

Stats:

David Hodgson needs one appearance to reach 350 for his career.

Hodgson has played club rugby for Halifax (13 games, 1999), Wigan (117 games, 2000-2004), Salford (88 games, 2005-2007), Huddersfield (93 games, 2008-2011) and current club Hull KR (24 games, 2012-2013).

He has also represented Great Britain (5 games, 2001, 2003 & 2007), England (5 games, 2005-2006 & 2008) and Yorkshire (4 games, 2001-2003).

Chev Walker needs one try to reach a career century of Rugby League touchdowns.

Walker has scored 93 club tries – made up of 86 for Leeds (1999-2006), 5 for Hull Kingston Rovers (2008-2009) and 2 for current club Bradford (2011 & 2013).

He also has 6 representative tries, having scored 1 for Great Britain (2005), 2 for England (2000), 1 for England ‘A’ (2002) and 2 for England Under 21s (2001).

Super League summary:

Bradford won 7
Hull KR won 5
1 draw
Bradford highest score: 52-22 (H, 2007) (Widest margin: 40-4, H, 2010)
Hull KR highest score: 49-24 (H, 2010) (Widest margin: 46-18, H, 2011)