Red Devils and Robins look to get back on track in Friday clash

Salford Red Devils and Hull Kingston Rovers meet this Friday in a clash which will see both sides looking to prove their doubters wrong after shaky starts to their 2022 campaigns.

Both sides are coming off heavy defeats last week with Ian Watson’s Huddersfield Giants running in six tries to pull off a thumping 34-2 victory over his former Salford side, whereas champions St Helens put the Robins to the sword as they left East Hull with the two points in their eight-try romp at Sewell Group Craven Park.

The previous meetings between the two clubs has thrown up some absolute classics, including the 2016 dramatic million pound game which created a immediate rivalry between the sides. The game will also include a number of Salford players who formerly wore the Red and White of Hull KR, including Ryan Brierley, Ken Sio, James Greenwood, Danny Addy, Ryan Lannon, and Chris Atkin, with Greg Burke missing the tie.

Off the field incidents have dampened the mood in the KR camp with the news that Brad Takairangi has been stood down by the club until his court case is completed. The outside-back had previously admitted to dangerously driving his car on the A63 after consuming a significant amount of alcohol, and will be sentenced on March 31st. Nothing has been confirmed or finalised yet, but don’t count on the Cook Island star representing the Robins once again as the severe charges placed against Takairangi look to have ended his time in East Hull.

“We felt we needed to do something there and recognise the situation that Brad is in and make sure we do the best by him as well. Sometimes that’s by removing people from situations where they may not be able to fulfil to their best as well.” KR coach Tony Smith told the Hull Daily Mail this week.

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Salford will provide a real test for Tony Smith’s men on Friday night as the Robins must start on the front foot to come away with the points in Greater Manchester. Marc Sneyd has been a thorn in the side of many a Rovers side during his days with Hull FC. On his day Sneyd can kick teams to death and sets the platform for his side with his left foot. Territory and possession will be the deciding factor on Friday with the outside-backs of KR facing a tricky challenge. Both clubs on-form can be a real handful in this division but the theme of “consistently in-consistent” which applies to both sides leaves the outcome and standard of the round five clash a tough one to call.

The right hand side of Takairangi and Sam Wood has been the target of many so far in 2022 with seven of the eight tries conceded against St Helens coming down the right edge. The combination of Ken Sio and Tim Lafai who already have nine tries between them this campaign and will be raring to go against the leaky defensive edge but with the expectation that Ethan Ryan will return onto the wing leaving Wood to return to his natural centre role, the pair have a fantastic chance to form a new partnership and cement their place in the side with the return of experienced outside-back Ben Crooks becoming ever closer.

Rovers are boosted with the timely return of 2021 team of the year second-row Kane Linnett. The Scottish international missed last week’s match due to a quad injury suffered in the victory over Castleford Tigers, but has been cleared to play again and will add a real threat to the KR attack which has struggled in recent weeks.

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The game seems like a “must win” for both teams but with a trip to Perpignan and a home tie against Warrington on the horizon for the Robins before the typically busy Easter Period, a victory over Salford will be the perfect chance to end the week on a high after the off-field incidents at the club becoming the main focus of round five.

Key Head-to-Head Battle

The half-back pairings of Marc Sneyd and Brodie Croft against Jordan Abdull and Mikey Lewis seems to be where the game will be won and lost this week. The Rovers’ playmakers have struggled creatively so far and have relied on individual brilliance to get over the line. Rowan Milnes has been included in the 21 man squad and will be breathing down the neck of the Hull born duo if they produce another unflattering performance. Abdull must outkick his opposite number with the former teammates both having the influence to turn a game on its head.

Salford 21-man squad: Ryan Brierley, Ken Sio, Tim Lafai, Joe Burgess, Brodie Croft, Marc Sneyd, Sitaleki Akauola, Andy Ackers, Shane Wright, James Greenwood, Elijah Taylor, Danny Addy, King Vuniyayawa, Ryan Lannon, Chris Atkin, Jack Ormondroyd, Rhys Williams, Matt Costello, Sam Luckley, Deon Cross, Alex Gerrard.

Hull KR 21-man squad: Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Ryan Hall, Jordan Abdull, Albert Vete, Matt Parcell, George King, Dean Hadley, Kane Linnett, Matty Storton, Jez Litten, Korbin Sims, Elliot Minchella, Jimmy Keinhorst, Will Dagger, Mikey Lewis, Rowan Milnes, Ethan Ryan, Sam Wood, Greg Richards, Tom Garratt, Frankie Halton.