After an important win against an in-form Huddersfield side, Hull Kingston Rovers will stay at KCOM Craven Park as they host Salford Red Devils, who are looking to bounce back from their defeat to Warrington Wolves. Here’s everything you need to know.
SQUAD NEWS
Hull Kingston Rovers
Head coach Tim Sheens has made two changes to his 19-man squad to face the Red Devils.
The Rovers boss has not named forward duo Lee Jewitt or Chris Clarkson in his 19, with Jewitt still struggling with the back niggle which ruled him out of last week’s victory over Huddersfield and Clarkson battling a chest infection.
Sheens also said that both players will be monitored over the next 48 hours, with the team set to complete their final training session of the week tomorrow. Their places in the 19-man squad have been taken by the returning Will Dagger and Will Oakes, with the latter competing with Liam Salter for a wing berth.
Hull Kingston Rovers 19-man squad: Quinlan, Vaivai, Shaw, McGuire, Scruton, Lunt, Masoe, Blair, Greenwood, Kavanagh, Donaldson, Lee, Mulhern, Salter, Atkin, Oakes, Dagger, Tickle, Tomkins
Salford Red Devils
As for Salford, a noticeably growing injury list is now starting to deprive the team of an increasing number of players, which could mean that some of the younger players will have to shoulder more of the responsibilities.
Head coach Ian Watson, when speaking to the media team, said: “All teams get injuries, and we have had a lot of niggling, short-term injuries which has prevented us turning out a settled team week after week. We had just been getting some consistency and now we are going to be disrupted again.
“Some of the younger players who have recently returned to the team, such as Dan Murray, Jake Bibby, and Ryan Lannon have all earned their places back, and any player who performs well will continue to hold down their position.”
Nevertheless, the Red Devils will need to win here to keep alive their faint hope of a top eight finish.
Salford Red Devils 19-man squad: Johnson, So’u, Lui, Tomkins, Jones, Flanagan, Tasi, Lannon, McCarthy, Nakubuwai, Wood, Olpherts, Mossop, Bibby, Nzoungou, Murray, Shorrocks, Chamberlain, Burke.
HEAD TO HEAD
The last time the two sides met was a few months ago when the Red Devils picked up their first points of the season thanks to a 36-12 over the Robins at the AJ Bell Stadium.
Full-back Gareth O’Brien, the man whose drop goal condemned Hull KR to relegation in 2016, was again a central figure for Salford, scoring 16 points and also providing two assists as they recorded their biggest ever Super League win over Rovers.
Winger Niall Evalds also scored two late tries for Salford as he marked his 100th career appearance in style. It was an unhappy return for Sheens, who spent two years at Salford alongside current Salford coach Ian Watson.
KEY BATTLE- Adam Quinlan v Greg Johnson
Since Gareth O’Brian had departed the Red Devils to play for Toronto Wolfpack, Johnson has stepped up as the new number one.
Johnson used to play on the wing and is one of the more experienced players, having made almost 100 appearances for Salford since signing from Batley Bulldogs in 2014.
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His try-scoring ability has been there for all to see as the 27-year-old averages almost a try every two games. Not to mention his combination of pace and power will see him continue on the flank for Salford in the coming seasons.
He will go up against Hull KR’s Adam Quinlan this afternoon. Quinlan boasts NRL experience Down Under and also enjoyed a successful short-term stint with St Helens in Super League in 2015, scoring a hat-trick on debut.
A noted speedster with good support play and the ability to link into the line, Quinlan can also feature in the halves and brings a creative element as well as a running threat to the full back position.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Sunday 8th July 2018
Venue: KCOM Craven Park
Kick-off: 3pm
Referee: Gareth Hewer
WHO WILL WIN?
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