Hull KR will be hoping they don’t have a repeat of their most shocking result of the season, losing to an championship side as they welcome the surprise package of the season in John Kear’s Batley Bulldogs who will be without inspirational captain Keegan Hirst due to a disciplinary matter.
Rovers will be looking to avoid another shock defeat as they lost 36-22 at home to Oldham in the Challenge Cup back in April. The part time side shocked James Webster’s side to progress in the biggest cup shock in years.
Rovers are not in the best of form only having one win and a draw in their last six games, they drew with Warrington at home and then the next week were victorious by one point over fellow middle 8s side Huddersfield in a 20-19 victory.
Batley have four wins in the last six including two on the bounce to secure the place to compete for Super League 2017 including a huge victory last time out against Swinton Lions. The Bulldogs travelled to Swinton and recorded a 62-24 scoreline to secure the place in the qualifiers with a bang.
Batley are without captain Keegan Hirst who is unavailable for selection due to a disciplinary matter which neither the club or Hirst himself have fully commented on but the prop has been a cornerstone of Batley’s success this season and all involved will look to hopefully have him available for selection soon.
Prediction – Hull KR by 22.
Squads
Hull KR – Allgood, Blair, Cator, Clarkson, Cockayne, Donaldson, Greenwood, Kelly, Lawler, Lunt, Mantellato, Marsh, Minns, Mulhern, Sio, Thompson, Thornley, Tilse, Walker
Batley – Rettie, Ulugia, Squires, Ainscough, Brambani, Rowe, Day, Walker, Davey, Gledhill, Chandler, Lillycrop, Bretherton, Leak, J.Brown, D.Scott, Harrison, A.Brown, Smeaton.
