Willie Peters has revealed plans to name a strong Hull KR team for Friday night’s Challenge Cup clash with amateur outfit Lock Lane.
The Robins get the defence of their Cup crown underway this week with non-league side Lock Lane heading to Craven Park for a clash that is expected to be something of a mismatch.
It will be KR’s first competitive outing of the season but given Peters picked a young team to play against Wakefield Trinity in pre-season last month, the clash will also provide a first run out of the year for a chunk of the squad.
And, while Peters won’t be naming his strongest possible 17, Lock Lane can expect to test themselves against a raft of last season’s treble winning line-up.
“It’ll be a strong team, with a sprinkle of some young guys in there as well,” Peters said on Monday afternoon at the club’s media day.
“It’s difficult to work out what the best way is – do you play your strongest team against Wakefield, but then you don’t play for three weeks? Or do you go stronger for this week, and the players, once they’ve started playing, they want to keep playing and I was okay with that.
“The England international guys won’t play – Jez, Mikey and Joe. Peta won’t play, he’s played many games over the past two seasons. It’ll be a good opportunity to give some young guys a go.”
Lock Lane saw off Brighouse Rangers in the first round of the competition last month and received a bye to the third round following Featherstone Rovers’ withdrawal.
They’re the last community side left in the Cup and while it does provide the opportunity of a lifetime for those players, the format of the competition has divided opinion, with many pointing to the dangers of allowing amateur players to face off against highly tuned professional athletes.
“It is what it is, I understand why we do it,” Peters said. “It’s a great opportunity for Lock Lane to get some revenue.
“They’re bringing the game here, and that’ll set them up for years to come. It’s great to help grassroots, and that’s what it can be about as well. It’s not the number one sport over here, football obviously is, so you’ve got to work out ways to generate income for grassroots and this is a good opportunity for them.
“That’s how we’re looking at it, to be able to help and give back – but also respect that it’s a game, players and playing against men. It’ll be physical, and a hit out for us and we’ll look at what we can control.”
On the injury front, Peters confirmed that Tom Amone and Sam Luckley are the club’s only concerns at present, but both will back in time to face Brisbane Broncos later this month.
“Tom Amone, Sam Luckley, that’s about it. Sam hopefully round one, and Tom is unlikely round one, but back for the World Club Challenge,” he added.
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