Hull KR v Leeds Rhinos - all the essential information

Rhinos are aiming for a fourth straight win and are fresh from last Friday's 48-18 Cup victory over the same opposition.

Here's everything you need to know about this week's game.

Competition: Super League round 13.

At: HJ Stadium, Warrington (Hull KR home game).

On: Thursday, September 24

Kick-off: 2.45pm.

Coverage: RFL Our League app for season ticket holders.

Tickets: No admission for fans - the game will be played behind closed doors.

Opposition coach: Former Rhinos boss Tony Smith returned to rugby league when he joined Hull KR in June last year after Tim Sheens was sacked. Twice a Grand Final winner with Rhinos, making him a club legend, he also coached Huddersfield Giants, England and Warrington Wolves before a spell out of the game when he did consultancy work for the FA.

Opposition star man: Half-back Jamie Ellis was one of Rovers’ better players in last week’s Coral Challenge Cup defeat by Leeds, scoring 14 of their 18 points through a brace of tries and three conversions.

Key battle: Matt Parcell was Rhinos’ only Dream Team member in 2017 when they last won the Super League title. He left Leeds last summer, enjoys playing against them and will need to be on top of his game against Kruise Leeming who was commanding in the middle of the field for Rhinos last week.

Opposition form: They were poor last week, particularly in the first half when Rhinos built a 30-0 lead. Before that, Rovers were showing positive signs, having beaten Wigan Warriors and taken champions St Helens to extra-time in their previous two Super League matches.

Previous meeting: September 18, 2020. Coral Challenge Cup quarter-final. Leeds Rhinos 48 (Tries Leeming 2, Seumanufagai, Handley, T Briscoe, Newman, L Briscoe, Martin. Goals Martin 8), Hull KR 18 (Tries Ellis 2, Litten. Goals Ellis 3). Referee: Liam Moore. At TW Stadium, St Helens.

Last five results: Hull KR LLWLL. Rhinos LLWWW.

Super League head-to-head: Hull KR won eight, Leeds won 20. Hull KR’s highest score 45-26 at home in 2019, widest margin 30-10 away in 2016). Leeds highest score and widest margin 52-10 at home in 2020,

Milestones: Rovers’ Kyle Trout needs one appearance to reach 200 for his career; Jamie Ellis needs one appearance to reach a career double century and is seven points away from 500 in Super League; Elliot Minchella needs one appearance to reach 150 for his career; Joe Keyes needs one appearance to reach 100 for his career. Rhinos’ Richie Myler needs eight points to reach 500 in Super League; Brett Ferres needs one try to reach 100 for his career.

Team news: Only 10 of the 21 players on duty last week retain their place in Rovers' initial 21. Will Dagger, Matty Storton and Ethan Ryan are injured and Greg Minikin, Weller Hauraki, George Lawler and Dean Hadley also drop out. Utility-back Will Tate could make his debut and former Rhinos Elliot Minchella, Jimmy Keinhorst, Mitch Garbutt and Nick Rawsthorne are in contention for a call-up, alongside Ryan Brierley, Harvey Livett, Joe Keyes, Kyle Trout, Owen Harrison and Will Maher. Rhinos coach Richard Agar will select from the 17 who played last week, plus Brett Ferres (who was Cup-tied), Adam Cuthbertson, and teenage forwards Josh Walters and Jarrod O’Connor who retain their place in the initial 21.

Hull KR: from Murray, Minchella, Livett, Ellis, Litten, Keinhorst, Keyes, Linnett, Trout, Gee, Parcell, Lewis, Garbutt, Peteru, Rawsthorne, Harrison, Mulhern, Brierley, Kenny-Dowall, Maher, Tate.

Leeds Rhinos: from T Briscoe, Newman, Handley, Lui, Gale, Seumanufagai, Leeming, Prior, Mellor, Martin, L Sutcliffe, Myler, Cuthbertson, Oledzki, McLelland, L Briscoe, Donaldson, Walters, Holroyd, O’Connor, Ferres.

Rhinos players unavailable: Jack Walker (foot injury), Stevie Ward (head), Cameron Smith (jaw), Brad Dwyer (coronavirus), Konrad Hurrell, Bodene Thompson, Corey Hall (all track and trace), Alex Sutcliffe (suspended).

Referee: Jack Smith (Warrington). First Leeds game this season.

Next games: Leeds Rhinos v Catalans Dragons, Wednesday, September 30, at Emerald Headingley (7pm); Huddersfield Giants v Hull KR, Wednesday, September 30, at John Smith’s Stadium (5.30pm).

A message from the Editor:

Leeds has a fantastic story to tell - and the Yorkshire Evening Post has been rooted firmly at the heart of telling the stories of our city since 1890. We believe in ourselves and hope you believe in us too. We need your support to help ensure we can continue to be at the heart of life in Leeds. https://www.yorkshireeveningpost.co.uk/news/why-yorkshire-evening-post-needs-your-support-laura-collins-yep-editor-2913382

Subscribe to our website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Click here to subscribe. For more details on our newspaper subscription offers click here.

Thank you

Laura Collins