Super League: Hull KR v Catalan Dragons preview
Last Updated: 06/09/14 6:49pm
Hull KR must beat Catalan Dragons at the KC Lightstream Stadium in the penultimate round of Super League on Sunday if they are to keep their slender hopes of a playoff place alive.
Chris Chester’s Robins must win their last two outings – a trip to Wakefield Wildcats follows next weekend – and rely on Widnes Vikings losing both their closing matches to make the knockout stages.
The Vikings currently boast a four-point advantage over Hull KR, but Rovers’ superior points difference would see them sneak into the top eight if they finished level on points.
A 28-0 defeat at the hands of city rivals Hull FC last weekend could prove the costly blow for Rovers and Chester will have to lift his side for the visit of the Dragons.
Laurent Frayssinous’ Catalans head to East Yorkshire on the back of a morale-boosting 46-4 victory over London Broncos last time out and can rest assured their place in the playoffs in all-but secure.
Following defeat in the Hull derby, Chester has rung the changes to his side and calls up a number of youngsters.
Sonny Esslemont, Macauley Hallett and Matty Marsh are all brought into the 19-man squad, while the London-bound Rhys Lovegrove is also recalled.
Debuts
Omari Caro, Jordan Cox, Ade Gardner and Liam Salter are the players to make way.
"There will be at least two debuts on Sunday," Chester told the Hull Daily Mail. "I'm looking at Sonny coming off the bench and Macauley starting.
"It's about time we played them with the under-19s reaching the play-offs for the first time.
"Macauley has been a stand-out performer for them all season, and Sonny has been knocking on the door already."
Meanwhile, Frayssinous has made just one change to the side which claimed an emphatic victory over the Broncos.
Young winger Damien Cardace joins the squad at the expense of Jason Baitieri in the lone change for the Dragons.
Hull KR: Burns, Carlile, Chan, Costigan, Eden, Esslemont, Green, Hall, Hallett, Hodgson, Horne, Keating, Larroyer, Lovegrove, Marsh, Netherton, Walker, Welham, Weyman
Catalan Dragons: Escare, Pomeroy, Oldfield, Bosc, Elima, Henderson, Taia, Anderson, Mounis, Maria, Pelissier, Whitehead, Millard, Bousquest, Paea, Duport, Cardace, Garcia, Williams