Danny McGuire unsure how he’ll pick a team for “important game” against Hull FC as he reveals eyewatering injury problems

Hull KR wanted to be fighting for play-off rugby at this stage of the season but instead were taking on a young Wigan side who have wrapped up second place whilst Danny McGuire named an injury ravaged side with the Robins left with nothing but local pride to play for.

The Robins came away with an uplifting 38-28 win with some lovely tries thrown into the mix despite a mixed and match team from interim boss McGuire but after the game the former Leeds man wasn’t too focused on the performance but rather the opportunities afforded to young players: “I don’t think it’s a game for the archives. Both teams tried hard and played some young players

“We had some young players out there. Wigan sort of had the right whilst ours was more out of necessity.

“Zach was great, out of the adversity that has been thrown at us the shining light is the opportunities for our young players.

“Phoenix at 18 at fullback, a 17-year-old on the wing, 17-year-old at prop, another at prop at 20 and Will Tate at 21. That for me is the most rewarding part of it.

“I think that’s the big think to take away from today and not much else.

“I thought we adapted alright and scored some nice tries. I thought defensively we defended well showing grit and determination but conceded a few soft tries at the end there probably through fatigue. But I thought we adapted.”

He went more in depth on Hull KR’s squad problems after that revealing that the Robins are missing nearly a million pounds worth of salary cap at present: “I’d love to be picking from a squad of 25, we’ve probably got close to a million quid sat on the side line there which is tough and has been the case for the last couple of months.

“We’re tried to cover that up people have been playing longer minutes you know Kane Linnett has come back from a serious injury but we’ve not really been able to rest them. I took him off for the last 15 minutes there because I just don’t want him to break down.”

It only gets worse for the Robins too with them losing Matt Parcell and Will Maher to injuries making their appeal of Jez Litten’s ban vital ahead of the derby with McGuire again unsure how he’ll name a team: “Will did his hamstring and Matt did his knee. I’d be very surprised if they were available for Saturday. There’s not many to come back in, Jimmy is back from his ban and we’ll fight to get Jez off. But other than that I’m not sure where we’re going to get the numbers from. So we’ll see. We’ll keep battling away.”

On Litten’s appeal which will take place on Wednesday, McGuire said: “I think we’ve got a fair case. We’ll have an appeal and we’ll see if we can get it downgraded.”

He them emphasised the importance of the derby even if neither side has anything to play for: “It’s an important game, our last one as a group. We want to finish the season well and win and finish higher.

“It would’ve been nice if both teams were pushing for the play-offs and more on the game and we’re disappointed that we’re not in that mix but sometimes circumstances and performances haven’t let us.

“At times we’ve probably not performed to our potential but had some really strong moments we need to hold on to for next year.”