Hull KR name strong squad for massive home playoff clash

Hull KR are set to host Leigh Leopards on Friday night in the preliminary round of the Super League playoffs, the Robins having just beaten the Leopards into fourth place thus guaranteeing Craven Park as the destination for Friday night’s fixture.

It’s a huge achievement for Rovers in their first season under Willie Peters but they’ll need to be at their best to progress any further given the club’s record against Leigh this season.

Friday will be the fifth meeting between the two teams, three of the first four have gone the way of the Leopards including crucially the Challenge Cup Final in which Rovers fell to a golden point drop goal.

Since that heartbreak the two teams have had differing fortunes in Super League with the Robins winning five of six, including a whopping 52-10 victory over the Leopards at Craven Park.

On the other hand Adrian Lam’s side have fared worse, winning just two of their six matches and consequently falling below the Robins in the table, thus ceding home advantage in this game.

Rovers team news is now in and second rower Dean Hadley is the big miss for Peters’ side, Hadley unable to overcome a calf injury picked up last week during the warm-ups and therefore he is not named in the 21-man squad.

He is replaced by prop forward Rhys Kennedy whilst the only other change sees Rowan Milnes drop out for utility man Jimmy Keinhorst with Milnes’ omission a potential sign that Jordan Abdull is back to peak match fitness after his return from injury.

With many faces departing Rovers at the end of the year it will mark the final home game for the likes of retiring Shaun Kenny Dowall and then those who are headed elsewhere including Brad Schneider, Ethan Ryan, Jack Walker and Jimmy Keinhorst.

The match will be televised by Sky Sports live from 7:30pm with an 8pm kick-off as both sides take part in their most important Super League fixture to date.

Rovers’ squad can be seen below.

2 – Ethan Ryan
3 – Tom Opacic
4 – Shaun Kenny-Dowall
5 – Ryan Hall, Jordan Abdull
7 – Jordan Abdull
8 – Sauaso Sue
9 – Matt Parcell
10 – George King
12 – Kane Linnett
13 – Elliot Minchella
14 – Jez Litten
15 – Rhys Kennedy
16 – James Batchelor
17 – Matty Storton
18 – Jimmy Keinhorst
20 – Mikey Lewis
23 – Louis Senior
26 – Sam Luckley
27 – Yusuf Aydin
34 – Jack Walker
37 – Brad Schneider