Hull KR host Warrington Wolves tonight in the first Super League semi-final and the teams have now been confirmed.
It’s a massive day in the Super League calendar but for these two teams in particular, it’s a game to decide of massive magnitude.
Hull KR have never been to Old Trafford but their two years under Willie Peters has seen them become a force to be reckoned with, whereas Warrington Wolves have turned from flops in 2023 to the highest-scoring and best defensive team in 2024.
Their development under Sam Burgess has been one of the tales of the season and a lot was made when he was not nominated among the Super League Coach of the Year candidates, instead snubbed for Willie Peters, Matt Peet, Paul Rowley and even Mike Eccles of London Broncos.
Burgess will not be fussed about that should his side be able to progress to Old Trafford with a victory tonight and they’ve already shown that they’ve got the mentality to win when it is tough, as seen in their golden point victory over St Helens last weekend.
For Hull KR, they’ve had a week off and whilst that will have helped with recovery, it does not change the fact that their influential captain Elliot Minchella is suspended.
The team news for both sides has now been confirmed.
Hull KR team news
Willie Peters had suggested that Dean Hadley would play at loose forward in place of Minchella and that is the case but the bigger focus was on if Niall Evalds and Joe Burgess would return, as expected.
Whilst Niall Evalds has returned, Oliver Gildart has not. Interestingly, Tom Opacic does not replace Gildart but instead utility back Jack Broadbent.
Hull KR Team: Evalds, Burgess, Hiku, Broadbent, Hall, May, Lewis, Sue, Parcell, Whitbread, Storton, Batchelor, Hadley
Interchanges: Litten, Luckley, Tanginoa, Brown
Warrington Wolves team news
As for Warrington Wolves, they got Paul Vaughan back from suspension last week with the prop returning and adding plenty to their pack. They’re still without Lachlan Fitzgibbon.
Otherwise, Sam Burgess has a very strong side to select from and that has seen Zane Musgrove named as 18th man with the forward pack consisting of the likes of Luke Yates, John Bateman and the departing Matty Nicholson.
Warrington Wolves team: Dufty, Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton, Williams, Drinkwater, Yates. Walker, Harrison, Bateman, Nicholson, Currie
Interchanges: Powell, Crowther, Vaughan, Philbin
The Semi-Final teams are in 😤@hullkrofficial v @WarringtonRLFC is live on @SkySports+ from 7:30pm 😍#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/UT84hDxiOU
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) October 4, 2024