Hull KR host St Helens on Saturday night for a place in the Super League Grand Final but there’s still lots of uncertainty over the Robins’ squad.
One aspect of uncertainty is fitness with Micky McIlorum being the obvious issue. The veteran hooker fractured his ankle in early August and whilst any chances of return are very unlikely, Willie Peters has conceded that if anyone can, then McIlorum can.
Even so, Hull KR would be more likely to gamble on progressing to the Grand Final and incorporating him into their squad on the big occasion if fit, as they did with the Challenge Cup Final at Wembley.
Joe Burgess is another concern with the winger missing the final three rounds of the season but he’s expected that he will be back in place of Noah Booth.
The major dilemma that Hull KR, and specifically Willie Peters, has to worry about is who he plays at left centre.
Hull KR left centre up for grabs with Peters facing dilemma
Oliver Gildart or Jack Broadbent? That’s what Willie Peters and the Hull KR coaching staff will be weighing up and it was a decision that they had to make last year ahead of the Grand Final.
In the end, Willie Peters favoured Jack Broadbent with the utility back playing in four of the last five regular season games, and then starting in both play-off matches.
As for Oliver Gildart, who picked up a knee injury in 2024, he played in round 25 and 26 but did not feature in the play-offs or the round 27 game which secured a top two spot for the Robins.
Having started the season on fire, Gildart suffered a knee injury in May at Magic Weekend with the 29-year-old only returning in round 26 int he defeat against Wakefield Trinity.
He scored a try in that game and would retain his spot for round 27 with Jack Broadbent missing out on that game, having played every other Super League game this year barring round one.
Broadbent has been used all across the backline but with the other four positions relatively fixed in Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, and then Joe Burgess if fit, it comes down to Gildart or Broadbent once again.
Gildart has the experience on his side and is arguably a better defensive player, whilst also boasting a very strong and lengthy relationship with winger Joe Burgess.
Broadbent has the form and a full season of match fitness, whilst also offering position versatility should it be needed. He’s also racked up 13 tries in Super League this year with 11 coming whilst in the centres.
It’s a decision that may come down to captains run with both men having legitimate cases to put forward, however, it may well be that fitness is what rules, as it did in 2024, with Oliver Gildart possibly the man to miss out.
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John
October 1, 2025 at 3:09 pm
Lot of nonsense. Broadbent is a great player and has had an excellent season for Rovers, filling in for Gildart at centre, and at ful back for Arthur Morgue, who was cuptied for the Challenge Cup games, but Gildart will play. He’s the first choice centre.