SL Preview: Hull FC v Hull KR

Hull KR head into this game on the back of a fine home win over St Helens, while Hull FC will be hoping for an improvement on their away defeat to Castleford Tigers last week.

The Airlie Birds must make do withouth half-back Marc Sneyd, as well as prop Chris Green. Youngsters James Cunningham and Jack Logan have been called up as replacements.

Hull KR get some much-needed forward pack reinforcement, with Mitchell Allgood and Greg Burke returning to Chris Chester’s group.

Prop James Green is suspended, while French hooker John Boudebza drops out of the squad.

Prediction: Hull KR have started to click, and their good form should continue on Thursday evening, with them winning by 10 points.

Hull FC (19-man squad): Bowden, Cunningham, Hadley, Houghton, Howarth, Lineham, Logan, Michaels, Minichiello, Paea, Paleaaesina, Pryce, Rankin, Shaul, Talanoa, Thompson, Watts, Westerman, Yeaman.

Hull KR (19-man squad): Allgood, Blair, Burke, Campese, Cockayne, Dixon, Donaldson, Goulding, Horne, Kelly, Larroyer, Lunt, Mantellato, McCarthy, Ollett, Salter, Sio, Walker, Welham.

Stats:

Hull FC‘s Joe Westerman has the longest run of consecutive appearances amongst Super League players, with 51. Westerman last missed a Hull game on 25 May, 2013 – a 22-16 Magic Weekend win against Hull KR at Manchester’s Etihad Stadium. His streak then started on 31 May, 2013 – an 18-6 home win against Leeds.

Hull KR‘s Ken Sio is second to Castleford’s Justin Carney on the Super League try scoring chart this season. Sio has scored eight to Carney’s nine. Rovers scrum-half Albert Kelly is in joint-fourth place on the list, with six.

Hull KR goalkicker Josh Mantellato has an excellent record with the boot in 2015. He tops the goals kicked chart with 29, and has a successful kick percentage of 78.37 (29 kicks from 37). He is also Super League‘s top points scorer with 66.

Super League Summary:

Hull FC won 11

Hull KR won 14 (includes win in 2010 play-offs)

Hull FC highest score: 44-18 (H, 2008) (Widest margin: 36-6, H, 2012)

Hull KR highest score: 42-6 (A, 2007) (also widest margin)

Last 10 Meetings:

Hull FC 28, Hull KR 0 (SLR25, 29/8/14)
Hull FC 24, Hull KR 38 (SLR13, 17/5/14) (at Etihad Stadium, Manchester)
Hull KR 21, Hull FC 20 (SLR9, 17/4/14)
Hull KR 20, Hull FC 38 (SLR24, 11/8/13)
Hull FC 22, Hull KR 16 (SLR16, 25/5/13) (at Etihad Stadium, Manchester)
Hull FC 10, Hull KR 23 (SLR9, 29/3/13)
Hull KR 18, Hull FC 32 (SLR21, 23/7/12)
Hull FC 30, Hull KR 32 (SLR15, 26/5/12) (at Etihad Stadium, Manchester)
Hull FC 36, Hull KR 6 (SLR10, 6/4/12)
Hull KR 17, Hull FC 10 (SLR16, 5/6/11)