Willie Peters: It's ours to lose

Hull KR Head Coach Willie Peters has underlined the significance of Tuesday Night’s showdown with Warrington Wolves as the race for Play-Off positions enters its most crucial stage.

The Robins head into this rearranged Round 2 fixture on the back of four consecutive victories and know a win over the Wolves would see them leapfrog Sam Burgess’ side into third place ahead of Round 24, as they look to defend their title.

Peters acknowledged just how much is on the line:

"This is a very important game. When we first knew that this game was going to be played at this time, on a Tuesday, we probably didn't look at how significant it could be, but it is.

"I think it is a significant game for us and for Warrington, just to see where we're both at this time of the year but also ladder positioning as well.

"It's a big game. It's an important game. I'm not going to downplay it. We’ve got many games, four games in 14 days, in fact. This is a big game for us."

With just a handful of matches remaining, every point could prove decisive in the battle for a top four finish and the chance to secure a home Play-Off Eliminator tie.

Peters believes the opportunity remains firmly in his side’s hands:

"Ladder positioning is really important. You want a home game. If you don't get one, you don't get one. You don't deserve it.

"We're in a position at the moment where we can could get a Play-Off game at home. We can make that top four.

"We're not relying on other teams. For certainly third and fourth, it's relying on us. So, if we go and win tomorrow, we'll put ourselves in third."

The current champions welcome back magic Mikey Lewis and Arthur Mourgue for tonight’s contest, while Tyrone May has also been included after coming through a minor knee issue.

Lewis returns after a four-match suspension and Peters believes the time away from the field has helped the former Steve Prescott MBE Man of Steel reflect:

"Mikey has got a lot of learning out of these last four weeks. He knows he needs to play with calmness and composure.

"He knows now what he needs to work on and I just want to see him go back to not feeling like he has to do something on every play and get frustrated by that.

The Robins coach was also keen to praise the players who have helped maintain momentum during Lewis' absence:

"I think it was important that the team went on to win those four games.

“Having Mikey in our team, we're better for it. Now, he just needs to keep showing that the back end of the year.

“But also, there are other players that can step up. We’ve found the last four weeks, without Mikey and without Arthur and some key players there in our spine, that we can still win games.”

The Robins have responded impressively since a disappointing defeat to the Wolves earlier in the campaign (34-12), when they shockingly slipped outside the Play-Off places.

Peters feels his side have answered some of the questions that were raised after that result:

"We didn't perform well at all that day. And we're aware of that. We've spoken about that. The best part is the players have owned that. They know that it wasn't a Hull KR performance.

"We did look sluggish and we did lack energy.

"What I'm proud about is there was a lot that was said that week about our team and where we were and all that sort of thing.”

That spirit is set to be tested further during a demanding run of fixtures, but Peters insists his side are embracing the challenge:

"The season that we've had has been challenging and it's going to get even more challenging.

"We look two ways. We can either lean into that and pull together and get through it. Otherwise, we say it's too hard and we know what happens off the back of that.

"That's not an option for us. The only option is that we still remain as committed and connected to make sure that we get to where we want to get to."

As The Final Charge intensifies, the Robins know victory over the Wolves would provide a major boost to their hopes of securing a home advantage in the Play-Offs and strengthen their position going into the closing rounds.

And Peters believes Tuesday night offers the perfect measure of where his side currently stand among Super League's leading contenders:

"We've got an opportunity to get to third tomorrow with a victory. There's a lot to play for.

"We've beaten teams out of that six the last four weeks. And we're playing a team that's sitting third tomorrow. We’ll get a better idea and understanding of where we sit inside that six [from that].

“There’s some extra motivation there tomorrow. It’s a tight competition, but that’s what you want.”

The Robins remain in the hunt to retain their Super League crown, and Peters made it clear his side have no intention of surrendering it without a fight:

“We’re chasing trophies and we’re chasing the Super League title. It's ours to lose. We're going to have some fight and what I'm proud about is we are showing some fight."

Watch Hull KR watch Warrington Wolves tonight (Tuesday 18 August) live and exclusive on Sky Sports (K.O. 8pm).