MATCH PREVIEW | Hull KR vs London Broncos
As the Super League season jumps the tenth round, we will be looking one of two games this weekend, Hull Kingston Rovers versus London Broncos.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Hull KR
Even though coming from behind to beat their neighbours Hull FC, the Red Robins weren’t a match for Warrington Wolves in their previous fixture.
London Broncos
The Broncos produced an extraordinary start to life back in the top flight after a comfortable win over Wakefield Trinity. However, they two lost in the second round against a Salford side that arguably outclassed them.
SQUAD NEWS
Hull KR
Head coach Tim Sheens has made one change to their 19-man squad to face London. Lee Jewitt comes in for the first time this season to replace Danny Addy.
As expected, Joel Tomkins & Junior Vaivai are both named. Sheens has also tipped new signing Ryan Lannon to make his debut this weekend.
Hull KR 19-man squad:
Hall, Crooks, Keinhorst, McGuire, Mulhern, Masoe, Tomkins, Greenwood, Hauraki, Garbutt, Lee, Jewitt, Atkin, Vaivai, Lawler, Lannon, Linnett, Drinkwater, Dagger.
London Broncos
Two milestones that could be reached this weekend are James Cunningham who, if selected, will make his 100th appearance in a Broncos shirt and Kieran Dixon is two goals away from a century for the club too.
Head coach, Danny Ward, has the luxury of naming the same 19-man squad for the trip and told their media team:
“The boys defended like trojans last week but we have to learn from these games, whether it be in victory or defeat, and take that into the next one. The boys have trained hard this week and gave me some selection headaches, which is a positive seeing how hungry certain players are to play.”
London 19-man squad:
Abdull, Adebiyi, Battye, Cunningham, Dixon, Fleming, Fozard, Gee, Loane, Kear, Lovell, Mason, Morgan, Pelissier, Pitts, Richards, Walker, Williams, Yates.
HEAD TO HEAD
The last time the two sides met, Hull KR took another significant step towards their Super League survival with a hard-fought 30-18 victory over London in Round 5 of the final Super 8s Qualifiers at KCOM Craven Park.
A few of the Rovers players that featured on the scoresheet are tipped to start this weekend.
KEY BATTLE
Mitch Garbutt (Hull KR) v Elliot Kear (London)
The key battle will be between Mitch Garbutt and Elliot Kear. Although both play in different positions, they’ve both made the most yards for their respective sides.
Hull KR’s Garbutt, who has transferred from Leeds Rhinos, has made the most yards on Super League records so far in 2019, making 328 metres.
London’s Kear has made 266 metres, suggesting that the Broncos strongest point in attack is along the wings.
It will look to be another high-scoring game in East Yorkshire and these two players will look to make the difference, in terms of who will come out as winners.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Sunday 17th February
Venue: KCOM Craven Park
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Scott Mikalauskas
WHO WILL WIN?
As mentioned in the head-to-head, it will be another high-scoring game. I think it will be another repeat performance for Hull KR.
