Hull KR v Leeds Rhinos - all you need to know about Friday's Super League clash

Here's all the essential information for the big game.

Fixture: Hull KR Leeds Rhinos

Competition: Betfred Super League round four.

At: Hull College, Craven Park.

On: Friday, April 23.

Kick-off: 6pm.

Coverage: Our League for season ticket holders.

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

Hull KR coach: Former Rhinos boss Tony Smith returned to rugby league when he joined Hull KR in June, 2019, 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.

Hull KR’s star man: Ryan Hall is the fifth-highest try scorer in Leeds’ history and will go second on the Super League list if he touches down today, overtaking Paul Wellens and ex-teammate Keith Senior, but still behind another former Leeds colleague and his current assistant-coach Danny McGuire. Even at 33, he’s still a strong ball carrier and powerful finisher, especially close to the line.

Key battle: Both teams have two in-form hookers. Rovers’ Matt Parcell is facing his former club, while Jez Litten will want to celebrate his new contract. Rhinos’ Kruise Leeming and Brad Dwyer will have to play well to come out on top.

Hull KR’s form: Rovers got off the mark in Super League last Friday with a one-point win over Huddersfield Giants, after two earlier golden points losses to Catalans Dragons in the league and a Challenge Cup tie against Castleford Tigers. Their other league defeat was 25-0 at St Helens.

Previous meeting: September 24, 2020. Betfred Super League round 13. Hull KR 16 (Tries Keinhorst, Brierley, Kenny-Dowall. Goals Brierley 2), Leeds Rhinos 41 (Tries Handley 2, Martin, Donaldson, Myler, Mellor, L Briscoe. Goals Martin 6. Drop goal Gale). Referee Jack Smith. At HJ Stadium, Warrington.

Last five results (most recent first): Hull KR WLLLL; Rhinos LLLWL.

Super League head to head: Hull KR have won eight, Leeds have won 21. Hull KR’s highest score was 45-26 at home in 2019 and their widest margin was 30-10, away in 2016. Leeds’ highest score and widest margin was 52-10 at home last year.

Connections: Rhinos’ James Donaldson is a former Hull KR player. Rovers’ coach Tony Smith guided Rhinos to Super League titles in 2004 and 2007. His assistant Danny McGuire is one of Leeds’ all-time great players and the Robins’ Ryan Hall and Matt Parcell are both Rhinos Grand Final winners. Muizz Mustapha is on season-long loan at Rovers from Leeds.

Milestones: Rovers' Ryan Hall needs one try for 200 in Super League, which will move him one ahead of ex-Leeds teammate Keith Senior and St Helens' Paul Wellens into stand-alone second place in the list of the competition's all-time leaders (three for Hull KR 2021, 196 for Leeds Rhinos 2007-2018). Rhinos' Richie Myler needs one more Super League appearance to rech 250 in the competition (60 for Leeds Rhinos 2018-2021, 40 for Catalans Dragons 2016-2017, 131 for Warrington Wolves 2010-2015, 18 for Salford City Reds 2009).

Rhinos injuries: Jack Walker (foot), Harry Newman (broken leg), Rob Lui (quad muscle), Luke Gale (broken thumb), Liam Sutcliffe (knee), Tom Holroyd (fractured leg) and Callum McLelland (groin).

Suspension: Zane Tetevano is serving the second game of a four-match ban

Team news: Konrad Hurrell, Ash Handley, Richie Myler, Bodene Thompson and King Vuniyayawa are all back in contention for Leeds after injury. Corey Hall, an unused substitute, drops out from last week’s team. Rovers are without suspended half-back Mikey Lewis and prop Korbin Sims due to concussion, but Brad Takairangi will make his debut after recovering from an injury suffered against Castleford Tigers in pre-season. Rowan Milnes, Matty Storton, Greg Minikin, Will Dagger and Jimmy Keinhorst are vying for a recall.

Hull KR's 21-man squad is: Adam Quinlan, Ben Crooks, Greg Minikin, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Ryan Hall, Jordan Abdull, Albert Vete, Matt Parcell, Brad Takairangi, Kane Linnett, Dean Hadley, Jez Litten, George Lawler, George King, Matty Storton, Will Dagger, Ethan Ryan, Rowan Milnes, Luis Johnson, Muizz Mustapha, Jimmy Keinhorst.

Leeds Rhinos' 21-man squad is: Tom Briscoe, Konrad Hurrell, Ash Handley, Mikolaj Oledzki, Kruise Leeming, Matt Prior , Alex Mellor, Rhyse Martin, Brad Dwyer, Richie Myler, Cameron Smith, King Vuniyayawa, Bodene Thompson, Alex Sutcliffe, Sam Walters, Luke Briscoe, James Donaldson, Jarrod O’Connor, Jack Broadbent, Morgan Gannon, Kyle Eastmond.

Referee: Marcus Griffiths (Widnes). His second Leeds game this season, following the round one win over Wakefield.

Next game: Warrington Wolves v Hull KR, Saturday, May 1, at 1pm; Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos, Sunday, May 2, at 3pm. Both Super League round four.

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