Hull KR face Leigh Leopards on Saturday in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals with the clash being a repeat of last year’s dramatic drop goal final that the Leopards edged 17-16.
Robins’ coach Willie Peters has now spoken to the press to offer an update on any injury news ahead of the game and unfortunately for Hull KR, there’s still enough concern surrounding one player that he’s been ruled out.
That man is centre Oliver Gildart who was actually in the Leopards’ changing room for that clash at Wembley last season, the ex-Wigan man reuniting with his former coach, in spite of having signed to play for Rovers in 2024.
Gildart’s move to Leigh did cause some controversy but it was quickly confirmed that he couldn’t play in the game rendering him a spectator for what turned out to be an epic Challenge Cup Final.
Unfortunately for the centre, he’ll be a spectator once again this weekend after Willie Peters confirmed that he’ll have another week off following the scary injury he incurred in the last round of the Cup that saw him stretchered off.
Peters explained: “Ollie Gildart’s probably going to be another week. He doesn’t have any symptoms anymore, but he had symptoms for a while.
“He has seen the specialist and the specialist has said that he’s better off having a week. He can do some contact now, which he’ll start shortly He’s back in training, but just light duties with the hope to return next week.”
What happened to Oliver Gildart?
Credit: Imago Images
Gildart will now miss a third consecutive game after being stretched off the field against Salford Red Devils back in March.
The centre left the field early on after a bruising collision left him in a concerning state, the normally raucous Craven Park falling silent, with Gildart confirmed to then head to hospital after failing a HIA.
He’ll now sit back for what is likely one more game before a possible return against Catalans Dragons next week, another stiff test for the Robins.
Missing someone as influential as Gildart is a major blow but Hull KR are blessed in depth this season, a sign of how far the club have come in recent years and that was something Peters was keen to highlight.
The Australian said: “I think this year the beauty of what we’ve got, especially in that centre position, is we’ve got some depth. So he was playing well and it’s unfortunate, obviously, it was a nasty sort of collision there. But you know,
“Tom Opacic has stepped in and is doing a really good job and we’ve got Corey Hall there as well and obviously Peta too. We’ve got some decent back up there and depth.”
Asked if the abundance of talent at his disposal was something that caused headaches, he confirmed: “It gives me good headaches. Absolutely, it does. I mean, we’ve got three very experienced centres and obviously, Corey Hall, who is going to be a very good player down the track. He’s only young.
“Putting three and four into two can be difficult, and it is difficult. The beauty of that is we want to have competition for spots, and that’s what that brings. It’s a good position to be in.”
Hull KR close to full strength barring banned forward
Credit: Imago Images
Another of the injury concerns for Hull KR was Dean Hadley with the second-rower only passed fit as the 18th man last week, however, he looks set to be in action on Saturday with the workhorse forward recovering from a calf injury.
Peters stated: “We’ll have a better look later on the week but both as I said Dean Hadley probably could have played last week that’s why we put him 18th man. He did have a tight calf so yeah I’d expect Dean to come back.”
As for winger Joe Burgess who also missed the game against London Broncos with a tight achilles, Peters kept his cards close to his chest, adding: “We’ll make a call on Joe later on in the week.”
Long-term injury George King remains out and the Robins will be without another of their fan favourites in the forward pack with Sam Luckley having copped a ban for his tip tackle against London Broncos.
Luckley was sent to the bin in the opening minutes against the Broncos and was handed a Grade C charge of a dangerous tackle, something Willie Peters shared his thoughts on.
“I think one game was probably on the mark in terms of just where the player ended up. I had a good look at it afterwards and was comfortable obviously with the one game.
“Sam didn’t intentionally mean to do that, it was just a vulnerable position that the player ended up in and obviously you don’t want to see players end up in vulnerable positions.
“It’s unfortunate for us and Sam but I think one week was the right thing. ”
Ben Reynolds remains cup-tied having played for Featherstone Rovers in the earlier rounds before he made the move to East Hull.
