Another exciting week in the Super League gets underway on Thursday night with the third battle between Hull KR and Hull FC this season. They have shared the first two tussles so bragging rights is very much up for grabs here.
Both teams are looking for the points not just for the local rivalry around this match but also to assist them in their quests over the remainder of the season. This is never a match that needs too much igniting but it certainly has it here.
Hull KR
Hull KR go into this match on bottom of the Super League table with their defeat at the London Broncos a pretty damaging one last week. It is imperative that they get back to winning ways soon if they are going to avoid the drop. The only good thing at the minute is that four teams are within two points of each other at the bottom so it isn’t like Rovers are detached from the rest or anything like that.
The expectation when Tony Smith was appointed as coach was that Hull KR would go to another level and when there was an initial bounce after he arrived, that early positivity was eroded with their loss under pressure last week. That doesn’t necessarily bode well for them over the course of the remainder of the campaign it must be said.
Hull FC
This derby has come round at the right time for Hull FC. Not only are their rivals struggling but they themselves go into it off the back of an emphatic win in France last week, the sort of result that makes teams stand up and take notice, especially at this time of year where Old Trafford is just starting to be thought about. They should be full of confidence coming into this match.
It now appears that the debacle that was the Magic Weekend has fired Hull FC into life because since then they have won three matches in Super League and scored 116pts in the process. If they can continue that scoring power in the intense battle that this match often turns into then they are going to give themselves a very good chance. Their strength up the middle is never going to disadvantage them.
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Team News
Hull KR are expected to have key men Danny Maguire and Mitch Garbutt back for this contest while Matt Parcell is in line to make his Rovers debut despite having only joined from Leeds on Wednesday afternoon.
Hull FC will be able to call upon the services of Carlos Tuimavave for the first time in a couple of months after he has returned from injury. He could be the only change to Lee Radford’s set up for this important clash.
Betting
I must admit I’m rarely comfortable taking sides to cover big handicaps in this competition but I can’t ignore Hull FC here. They put up 50pts on Hull KR in the meeting between the two at the KCOM and the knowledge they have that they can score points combined with the confidence of sticking a 50 burger on the Catalans Dragons last week makes me think the visitors are good things.
We should acknowledge that now and again Hull FC can put in horrendous showings but there doesn’t appear to be one on the horizon and Hull KR should be ripe for a beating while they adjust to the change at hooker and with their lack of confidence after a hurtful defeat last week. With all that in mind I’ll take Hull FC to cover a converted try in this one.
Tips
Back Hull FC (-6) to beat Hull KR for a 4/10 stake at 2.00 with Betway
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