Willie Peters and Mark Applegarth have named their respective Hull KR and York Knights teams ahead of tonight’s Super League opener.
The treble winners will be looking to make a fast start to their defence of the Super League crown and they’ll be backed by a big crowd at the LNER Community Stadium this evening.
York Knights are new to Super League level and they’re all too aware of how challenging their opening day fixture is, but they’ll start life in Super League with their tails up after some strong recruitment over the off-season.
Applegarth has named four new signings in his starting XIII, with ex-Warrington Wolves forward Paul Vaughan starting in the front-row alongside former Sydney Roosters man Xavier Va’a.
Sam Wood starts at centre for the Knights, while Nikau Williams also starts. Hull FC loanee Denive Balmforth will have a point to prove off the bench, while Jack Martin, Justin Sangare and Josh Griffin are named on the bench.
KR have named a familiar starting line-up, with Peters naming Arthur Mourgue at full-back, Tom Davies and Joe Burgess on the wings and Oliver Gildart and Peta Hiku at centre. Dean Hadley is named in the front-row, with Tom Amone injured, while Rhyse Martin and James Batchelor get the nod in the back-row.
Sam Luckley is fit enough to get a spot on the bench after timing his recovery from off-season knee surgery perfectly, while Karl Lawton gets a Super League debut off the bench.
York Knights v Hull KR team news
York Knights: Toa Mata’afa; Ben Jones-Bishop, Sam Wood, Nikau Williams, Scott Galeano; Ata Hingano, Liam Harris; Xavier Va’a, Paul McShane, Paul Vaughan; Oli Field, Jesse Dee; Jordan Thompson.
Bench: Denive Balmforth, Jack Martin, Justin Sangare, Josh Griffin.
Hull KR: Arthur Mourgue; Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess; Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May; Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Dean Hadley; Rhyse Martin, James Batchelor; Elliot Minchella.
Bench: Jack Broadbent, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Karl Lawton.
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