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Improving Robins face tricky test Super League

2nd June 2012

Hull KR will be out to consolidate their newly-gained top-eight spot when they take on high-flying Warrington Wolves tomorrow.

The Robins climbed into the play-off places for the first time thanks to a last-gasp win over derby rivals Hull FC in the Magic Weekend and now face an acid test of their improvement, according to coach Craig Sandercock.

"It doesn't come any tougher than a game against Warrington," said Sandercock. "They're second on the ladder, put 68 points on Widnes Vikings last weekend and have class players throughout their team.

"They were a little bit understrength last weekend and were missing a few key players who will be back this week.

"When you're playing a side with as much class as Warrington you need to be at your best and all 17 boys who play for us this weekend need to be at their best.

"If we do that, then I'm quietly confident we'll be in a position where we could sneak a win."

Warrington have won their last four meetings with Hull KR, including a 42-10 triumph at the Halliwell Jones Stadium earlier this year.

Hull will be looking to bounce back from their agonising defeat when they host St Helens, who were also on the wrong end of a derby defeat in Manchester.

"The boys have been a bit short-tempered with each other this week, as have the coaching staff," said Hull coach Peter Gentle.

"We are still stinging from last weekend and we are itching to get back out on the field.

"Training this week has been very positive and it's fair to say the players are eager to get out there and make amends.

"No doubt St Helens will also be looking to do the same after their own disappointing loss to Wigan Warriors so it should be a good game."

St Helens will leapfrog Hull into fifth place if they can avenge their 22-10 home defeat from earlier this season and acting head coach Mike Rush has set his side a target of five wins from their next five matches to climb into the top four.

"It's always hard at the KC," Rush said. "They'll be smarting because they got pipped in the last minute by their arch rivals.

Another team seeking atonement are Huddersfield Giants, who go to bottom club Widnes aiming to arrest a three-match losing run which has seen them drop from top to fourth place in the table.

The Giants thrashed the Vikings 66-6 at the Galpharm Stadium but coach Nathan Brown is anticipating a much closer contest on the artificial surface at the Stobart Stadium.

"It will be a fast pitch, a good track," he said. "We have just got to go and put in a good performance as they are definitely a better team at home.

"They have had two wins there and nearly beat Catalan. That seems to be where they play their best football on that surface."

In tomorrow's other game London Broncos will be aiming to complete the double over Wakefield Trinity Wildcats but history is firmly against them.

It is more than 12 months since the Londoners last won away from home in Stobart Super League and nine years since their last victory at Belle Vue.

The Broncos have lost six matches in a row since beating the Wildcats 36-0 in March, a result that still rankles with coach Richard Agar, who is wary of the threat posed by their lowly opponents.

"Maybe their league position is not a reflection of the talent and capability that the team has," Agar said.

"There is no shying away from the fact they will be disappointed to have only won two games this season and they will be feel they have been underperforming.

"We have to be wary of that and obviously one of their victories came against us. I'm not sure the scoreline on that day necessarily reflected the two teams but we will be doing our best to put that right on Sunday."

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Improving Robins face tricky test Super League