Salford Red Devils vs Hull Kingston Rovers
Super League – Friday 23rd Feb – AJ Bell Stadium – KO 8:00PM
Check out Richard Lowes big match preview here looking forward to Friday.
Salford are back at home this week, playing freshly promoted Hull KR. The Red Devils will be keen to pick up their first 2 points of the season against a combative looking Robin’s side.
It’s imperative that Ian Watson’s side turn in a performance to settle the home supporter’s down and to ensure that we get some points on the board. The next 2 games are away fixtures against St Helens and Castleford respectively, then a tricky home game against Hull FC.
Meanwhile in East Hull, the Red and Whites have gained 2 points from their first 3 Super League games. Losing out at home to Leeds in the season opener, then away to Wakefield Trinity, before a more encouraging performance and subsequent victory in the South of France against Catalan Dragons.
Both teams have now named their 19 men squads, so let’s run down the key head to head’s that could well decide where the 2 points end up.
Props: Ben Nakubuwai vs Mose Masoe
“Big Ben” has settled well to life with the Red Devils and made an impressive debut off the bench against Wakefield 2 weeks ago. He will almost certainly start again from the bench, this time against Hull and will be hoping he can once again make in-roads with his straight running and combative tackling.
Imposing Samoan international, Mose Masoe will be keen to ensure he and his team get on the front foot from the off. Being the main prop in the Hull KR line up, Masoe will be keen to get back to the form of 2014 when he was in the St Helens line up and won the Grand Final.
Hooker: Josh Wood vs Shaun Lunt
Youngster Josh Wood is once again named in the 19 and has caught the eye already with a number of big hits on opposition props. Despite his relatively slight frame, he’s clearly added bulk to his skill set and is not afraid to put his body on the line for the cause. His distribution from dummy half has also improved greatly during the close season and Ian Watson has clearly a lot of faith in him. Let’s hope some of it can be repaid this Friday.
Shaun Lunt, at the other end of his career compared with Wood, has seen multiple Challenge cup and Grand finals in his time. His quick decisions from dummy half to spot a pass or take on the opposition if they are in trouble has been a great asset of his over the years and the Hull KR fans will be hoping he can repeat this during Saturday’s game.
Halves: Rob Lui v Maurice Blair
Game management will be a key factor in deciding where the 2 points end up on Friday evening and in Rob Lui, Salford have an exceptionally accomplished ball playing stand-off. Coach Watson will be hoping that he can take the mantle from his old half partner, Michael Dobson and control the game from the off.
Seasoned professional, Maurice Blair has spent the last two seasons at Hull KR. The 33-year-old Aussie Stand-off was named player of the year last season for the club in the Championship and will clearly be keen to bring that form with him into the Super League during this season.
Wing: Greg Johnson v Justin Carney
Greg Johnson has been named in the squad this week after missing the last game against Wakefield. His powerful running out of defence will be crucial to give the Red Devils a strong platform when bringing the ball away from the try line. He needs to rediscover the form with his centres that saw him scoring freely last season and will need to keep a tight defensive line to try and stop the opposition.
The ‘tank on the flank’ Carney returns to face his former club for the first time since he was let go for foul and abusive language during the Toronto Challenge cup game. He will clearly be keen to impress against his old club. The Salford fans are painfully aware of how strong and quick Carney is when bringing the ball out of defence and it’s therefore imperative that kicks and chases are perfectly judged to him, ensuring he’s not able to get up a head of steam otherwise this could cause Salford serious problems.
With Mark Flanagan also in line for a return to the team, there should be no reason why Red Devils fans can’t feel optimistic for a victory this Friday and our first 2 points of the season.
Come on Salford!!!!
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