Magic Preview: True Geordie

Hull KR?s Luckley looking to add another North-East memory 

Sam Luckley is hoping for another St James' Park try and another Alan Shearer tribute celebration ? but this time a Magic Weekend win as well.

The Hull KR front rower earned social media praise from his boyhood hero Shearer last year after re-producing his iconic raised-hand salute after scoring a try for Salford in front of the Gallowgate End.

But it wasn?t enough to secure victory for the Red Devils against Huddersfield Giants ? and now Luckley wants to complete his hometown experience when he faces his former club this weekend.

.@hullkrofficial Sam Luckley didn't miss the chance to head home to St James' Park to watch his beloved @NUFC ahead of #MagicWeekend ?
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 25, 2023

?I played there first for Salford against Castleford in 2021, but we lost so it was a bittersweet moment for me," Luckley recalls. "Then to score last year in front of the Gallowgate was amazing, it really was a dream come true moment.

"We lost again which leaves a bit of stain on the memory, but my try kind of overshadowed the loss for me because it really was a boyhood dream for me. To sum it up, it was one of the best days of my life.

"I'm hoping to get the win this time and maybe I'll hear from Alan Shearer again - although he'll have to follow me back first!

"All of that stuff was really good. Scoring again isn't something I'm looking for really, I just want to have a real dig and hopefully get a result."

There have been plenty of those for the Robins so far this season during an eye-catching start to the season under new coach Willie Peters.

"Willie's been really good," Luckley says. ?I knew what he was going to be like from speaking to him on the phone first and him telling us how he wanted us to train.

"He brings a lot of clarity and knows exactly what he wants. It's been good so far and I'm loving my time here. We've started the season well and we just want to keep that momentum going now.

"I was here briefly when I was a kid. I played in the North East scholarship programme and they needed a front rower in their academy, so I came over and played against Cas and Featherstone I think it was.

"I love the culture here and some of the same staff are still here including kitman Bonesy (Alan Fellows) - he must be about 150 years old."

There will be more familiar faces for Luckley this weekend when he takes on his former team-mates.

"It was weird playing against them earlier in the year because I'm still quite close to a lot of them," he adds. "We know how good Salford are, they like to sling the ball about and it will be a tough game.

"I've got a few mates coming so hopefully they will get behind Hull KR and the game of rugby league as a whole and enjoy having a few beers."

PLAYER IN FORM - RYAN HALL 

A host of players could fit this bill for the Robins after their flying start to the season and Hall has rolled back the clock with a series of outstanding displays on the wing.

Such has been his form that coach Willie Peters publicly backed him to regain his England spot. And Hall remains his country's all-time record try scorer.

The tries have continued to flow this season alongside the 35-year-old's ever prodigious work-rate coming away from his own line.

ONE TO WATCH - TOM OPACIC 

The Australian centre arrived at Hull KR as arguably the highest profile overseas recruit of the close season, with only a hamstring injury preventing him from playing in last year's NRL Grand Final.

Opacic also signed in the peak years of his career, after previous spells at Brisbane Broncos and North Queensland Cowboys.

The 28-year-old has certainly lived up to his billing, helping the Robins to their impressive start to the campaign with a host of eye-catching performances.

This article is taken from the Magic Weekend programme, copies of which can be ordered online via Curtis Sports. 

Tickets for Magic Weekend at St James' Park are available to purchase online via superleague.co.uk until Friday 2 June and on match day from the Stadium ticket office.