Super League Preview: Hull KR v Wakefield

Correspondent

Having both exited the Challenge Cup last weekend, Hull KR and Wakefield Wildcats switch their attentions back to Super League when they meet at MS3 Craven Park on Sunday. 

Hosts Hull KR were beaten at 46-14 at home to Wigan while their city rivals Hull FC were responsible for Wakefield’s exit, beating the Wildcats 24-6. 

The visitors, who sit just outside the top eight in tenth, have won their last two Super League fixtures and will be hoping to replicate last year’s end-of-season run to the play-offs.

Fresh doubts over Rovers head coach Craig Sandercock’s future surfaced during the week but the Austalian’s injury-ravaged squad has been boosted by the return to action of Cory Paterson and Greg Eden, who both featured in the cup defeat to Wigan. Former Hull FC halfback Danny Nicklas is still training with the club after joining from York last week, but isn’t in the squad.

Prop Justin Poore is back in contention for Wakefield after an ankle injury kept him out of the cup game with Hull and Richard Mathers, who has spent some time on the sidelines recently with a ruptured testicle and knee problem, returns to the squad. 

Hull KR 19-man squad: Salter, Brown, Walker, George, Griffin, Cox, Mika, Burns, Horne, Withers, Hall, Paea, Ollett, Lovegrove, Dobson, Welham, Eden, Beaumont, J Hodgson.

Wakefield Wildcats: 19-man squad: Mathers, Fox, Collis, L Smith, Cockayne, T Smith, Poore, Aiton, Raleigh, Lauitiiti, Kirmond, Washbrook, Wood, Amor, Wilkes, Mellars, Lyne, Annakin, Molloy.

Prediction: Wakefield to edge a close encounter and make it three wins on the bounce – away win.

Stats:

Super League summary:

Hull KR won 5

Wakefield won 8

Hull KR highest score: 70-14 (H, 2011) (also widest margin)

Wakefield highest score: 36-20 (H, 2013) (also widest margin)