Super League: Leeds Rhinos v Hull KR preview
Last Updated: 10/07/14 4:12pm
Hull KR will be looking to pile more misery on Leeds Rhinos when caretaker coach Chris Chester takes his side to Headingley Carnegie on Friday.
The Rovers returned to winning ways in emphatic fashion last time out following a 40-10 thrashing of leaders St Helens, while Leeds suffered a late 16-14 defeat to resurgent Wakefield.
The Rhinos remain second in the standings despite losing three of the last five in league action and a success over Hull KR could see them return to the summit.
Young prop Rob Mulhern, who was drafted into the squad last week, is named in the 19-man squad this week whilst Mitch Achurch is also back after recovering from a groin injury.
Rhinos head coach Brian McDermott will be without Zak Hardaker as he sits out the final game of his five-game ban meaning Ben Jones-Bishop will continue at full-back.
Leeds welcome back Kevin Sinfield, Rob Burrow and the versatile Carl Ablett. Sinfield is back after missing the last two games with a back injury while Burrow has been out since fracturing his collar bone against St Helens in the Challenge Cup Fifth. Ablett has missed the last two games with a shoulder injury.
Jamie Peacock will be expected to lead the line for Leeds and the former Great Britain international has grown tired of losing tight games after their slender reverse to the Wildcats.
Youthful look
“We had a lot of young lads in and they played well,” Peacock told the Yorkshire Evening Post. “But I am getting a bit sick and tired of losing tight games at the death this year. We have lost three or four by two points. We need to put those games to bed.”
Chester has named his 19-man squad for Friday’s clash at Headingley and he has made two changes for the trip along the M62.
In what will be his second match in charge following the departure of Craig Sandercock, Chester has recalled Neville Costigan and Liam Salter to the side which beat Saints.
Forwards Jordan Cox and Sonny Esslemont, who is still waiting for his Super League debut, are the players to make way this week.
“We’ve got a lot of potential if we play like we did against St Helens,” on-loan Frenchman Kevin Lorroyer told the club’s official website.
“Now it’s important to play like this every game and to do the same against Leeds this week because I think we can get into that top eight.
“I’m looking forward to Friday, it will be great atmosphere and it will be the first time playing on that pitch for me.”
Leeds Rhinos: Jones-Bishop, Watkins, Moon, Hall, McGuire, Burrow, Aiton, Peacock, Ablett, Sinfield, S. Ward, Delaney, Bailey, Achurch, T. Briscoe, Sutcliffe, Minchella, Mulhern, Walters.
Hull KR: Burns, Carlile, Caro, Costigan, Eden, Green, Hall, D. Hodgson, J. Hodgson, Horne, Keating, Larroyer, Lovegrove, Netherton, Ollett, Salter, A. Walker, Welham, Weyman.