Newly-promoted Hull Kingston Rovers will be looking to make an early impression on their return to Super League when Tim Sheens’ side take on Wakefield Trinity at Craven Park on Friday.
TEAM FORM GUIDE
Hull Kingston Rovers
Hull KR come into the new season after securing victory in each of their three pre-season games – the Robins defeated York City nights in at the start of January, before beating city rivals Hull FC and Championship side London Broncos respectively.
Wakefield Trinity
Trinity’s pre-season began at the end of 2017 with the annual Boxing Day fixture against Leeds Rhinos – winger Ben Jones-Bishop and Joe Arundel both crossed but the Rhinos edged the contest 17-10. Wakefield, who defeated Halifax 64-0 in their first game of 2018, continued their preparation with matches against Huddersfield Giants and Batley Bulldogs.
SQUAD NEWS
Hull Kingston Rovers
Half-back Danny Maguire will make his debut for the Robins on Friday night, while Tommy Lee and Jordan Walne, who also moved to Craven Park this term, are also included. Prop Nick Scruton is unavailable due to a shoulder injury.
Robins squad: Adam Quinlan, Thomas Minns, Andrew Heffernan, Ryan Shaw, Danny McGuire, Shaun Lunt, Mose Masoe, Maurice Blair, James Greenwood, Ben Kavanagh, Lee Jewitt, Chris Clarkson, Tommy Lee, Matty Marsh, Robbie Mulhern, Liam Salter, Chris Atkin, Jordan Walne, Justin Carney
Wakefield Trinity
Winger Tom Johnstone is expected to start on the wing for Chris Chester. The 22-year-old returned to the side with a hat-trick of tries against Halifax, having not featured since April after rupturing his anterior cruciate ligament.
Trinity squad: Chris Annakin, Tinirau Arona, Matty Ashurst, Mason Caton-Brown, Anthony England, David Fifita, Liam Finn, Scott Grix, Ryan Hampshire, Keegan Hirst, Justin Horo, Tom Johnstone, Ben Jones-Bishop, Danny Kirmond, Reece Lyne, Jacob Miller, Pauli Pauli, Bill Tupou Kyle Wood
PREVIEW
Hull KR defeated Wakefield 54-16 in the sides’ last Super League meeting in June 2016. Craig Hall touched down for Trinity, while Kieran Dixon and Albert Kelly starred for the Robins with a hat-trick and a brace of tries respectively.
Wakefield prop David Fifita, who was an important figure throughout Trinity’s top-four push in 2017, could face up against Mose Masoe in one of the game’s key battles.
Hull KR coach Sheens has said that his side are eager to return to Super League action after a strong pre-season.
He told the club’s official website: “The players are sick of pre-season, they want to play. The guys are focused, we’ve had a lot of our injured guys come through, so we’re looking fairly strong. We’re looking forward to it.
“We’ve lots [Nick] Scruton for the first three or four weeks, which is a big loss to the squad. He’s our forward leader. However, Robbie Mulhern and Mose [Masoe] have stepped up pretty well in the friendlies.”
Wakefield boss Chris Chester’s visit to Craven Park will be his first since leaving Hull KR in 2016, and the 39-year-old told the Hull Daily Mail that he is expecting a stern test from his former employers.
He said: “Hull KR are very dangerous. They’ll feed off the same energy as us last year – before a ball had been kicked we were written off by everyone but went on to prove a lot of people wrong.
“There’s bound to be plenty of emotion in the first game, and KR will have 9,000 fans willing their team on to do well. Us, as a team, we have to take that emotion out of the match.
“Rovers have arguably the league’s best half-back last year in Danny McGuire, Justin Carney, who is a handful, and many more threats. We’re prepared well and we’re ready for the trick plays they’re going to come up with.”
KEY STAT
These two sides have met on 20 occasions in Super League, each winning 10 of the ties.
THE IMPORTANT DETAILS
Date: Friday 2nd February
Venue: KCOM Craven Park
Kick-off: 8pm
WHO WILL WIN?
[totalpoll id=”275971″]
https://nothingbutleague.com/2017/12/10/poll-who-will-take-our-the-title-as-super-leagues-champions-in-2018/
