MATCH PREVIEW | Salford Red Devils vs Hull Kingston Rovers
After failing to beat their relegation rivals London. Hull KR will have one more chance to claim promotion when they travel to the most in-form side in Super League; Salford.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Salford
Ian Watson has had a second half of the season to remember. Despite losing their previous meeting with their next opponents.
However since then Salford have won nine out their previous 12 games, sitting at fourth in the table. Another win for the Red Devils will give them a fighting chance (or two) in the play-offs.
Not to mention it will be their eighth consecutive win in Super League and a new club record if their victorious after the full-time whistle.
Hull KR
The same can’t be said for the East Hull side as Tony Smith was appointed a bit later on from that said win and has slightly improved their patchy form whilst bagging some notable wins along the way.
But when it comes to the games that really matter, Rovers have succumbed to the pressure and have caused too much of their own problems.
Hull KR can’t afford to lose this match and must win this game if they are to get the best chance of survival, otherwise they would have to rely on the other relegation contenders to lose.
SQUAD NEWS
Salford
Watson brings in Adam Lawton and Rovers loanee Ryan Lannon who will join Kris Welham and Ken Sio in the team that could sink their former side to the Championship.
Salford’s 19-man squad: Niall Evalds, Kris Welham, Jake Bibby, Lee Mossop, Josh Wood, Josh Jones, George Griffin, Joey Lussick, Adam Walker, Greg Burke, Ben Nakubuwai, Logan Tomkins, Ken Sio, Adam Lawton, Krisnan Inu, Ryan Lannon, Tui Lolohea, Jackson Hastings, Josh Johnson.
Hull KR
Captain Joel Tomkins is unavailable after having his one-match penalty notice doubled following a lost appeal on Tuesday night to the RFL Disciplinary Panel.
Centre Jimmy Keinhorst is also missing through concussion sustained against London Broncos last week, but second-rower Dean Hadley has recovered from a shoulder issue to be named in the 19-man squad.
Full-back Adam Quinlan and forward George Lawler make their returns to the preliminary line-up for the trip across the M62.
Hull KR’s 19-man squad: Adam Quinlan, Craig Hall, Ben Crooks, Ryan Shaw, Danny McGuire, Robbie Mulhern, Mose Masoe, Weller Hauraki, Mitch Garbutt, Chris Atkin, Danny Addy, George Lawler, Kane Linnett, Josh Drinkwater, Will Dagger, Daniel Murray, Matt Parcell, Dean Hadley, Kyle Trout.
HEAD TO HEAD
In recent years the meetings between the two sides have gone either way but it has surprisingly been the visitors which have won two out of the three meetings in all competitions this year.
Rovers’ last visit to the AJ Bell Stadium knocked the hosts out of this year’s Challenge Cup and two weeks after that the Red Robins picked up two points over Salford at Magic Weekend.
The Red Devils did win at Craven Park in the first meeting of the season but the question is could they do it again at their own ground.
KEY BATTLE
Jackson Hastings (Salford) v Josh Drinkwater (Hull KR)
Without a doubt Hastings has been the best scrum-half of the season and has notably made the most metres in the league, recording over 3,500 metres.
On the other hand Hull KR’s Craig Hall has made the most metres but hasn’t come close to Hastings. However, the Red Robins have announced prior to the London game that Drinkwater would be leaving and so this game would be his last chance to advertise what he can offer to other teams.
Although Hastings has the most metres so far, Drinkwater is one of three players in the Super League to have played every minute and has been getting better in the process.
It will be an interesting matchup to see what these two halves can offer to their sides if they play at their best.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday 13th September 2019
Venue: AJ Bell Stadium
Kick-off: 7:45pm
Referee: Chris Kendall
WHO WILL WIN?
The odds are in favour of Salford as they will come into the game with seven consecutive wins but I think Hull KR can defy the odds once again and stay in Super League.
