Super League Preview: Hull KR v St Helens

Two sides who lost to Wigan over the Easter weekend meet at Craven Park on Sunday.

Rovers will be licking their wounds following a record Super League defeat against the Warriors, which has resulted in criticism from chairman Neil Hudgell, who has also threatened to withdraw his significant financial backing of the club.

It piles the pressure on coach Craig Sandercock, with the Rovers currently sitting in the eighth and final play-off spot, having missed out last year.

They have a good record against St Helens, but the visitors continue to grind out results even with a number of key players missing through injury, which has seen them keep the pace at the top end of the table.

Michael Dobson returns having sat out the Easter weekend, but half-back partner Travis Burns is missing through suspension.

Lance Hohaia, who has been struggling with a groin injury, is named in the Saints squad, but Nathan Brown is without Ade Gardner, who sustained a head injury in the defeat at Wigan.

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

St Helens 19-man squad: Wellens, Turner, Soliola, Meli, Hohaia, McCarthy-Scarsbrook, Wilkin, Laffranchi, Flanagan, Clough, Jones, Makinson, Ashe, Greenwood, Walmsley, Swift, Percival, Tilley, Howarth.

Prediction: Could be a crucial game for Hull KR, and an important one for them to win – home win.

Stats:

Hull KR are undefeated in their last four home meetings with St Helens, having won three and drawn one. Saints’ last win at Craven Park was 24-18 in the Quarter Finals of the Challenge Cup on 1 June, 2008.

Super League summary:

Hull KR won 5
St Helens won 7
1 draw
Hull KR highest winning score: 28-24 (H, 2010) (Widest margin: 26-10, H, 2009)
St Helens highest score: 68-12 (H, 2010) (also widest margin)