Hull KR v Leeds Rhinos: Battle for survival tougher than ever for Rovers

Hull Kingston Rovers prop James Greenwood believes his side are capable of completing a shock double over the deposed Super League champions Leeds Rhinos. (Picture: Tony Johnson)

Twelve months ago, the Robins faced a survival fight alongside Wakefield Trinity Wildcats, Salford Red Devils and Widnes Vikings.

But they had too much quality, winning seven out of seven, to ensure they were never in danger of dropping into the Championship.

Their ‘magnificent seven’ included wins against Championship hopefuls Leigh Centurions, Halifax, Bradford Bulls and Sheffield Eagles.

Now Hull KR find themselves in the bottom four once again alongside Salford, but this time they are joined by two sides used to battling for honours at the opposite end of the table.

Leeds Rhinos, tonight’s visitors to the Lightstream Stadium, were treble winners last year, while Huddersfield Giants have fallen from grace – they finished fourth last season – to slump to the bottom of Super League.

It means Rovers’ task of securing their current status is all the more greater in 2016.

And Hull KR prop Greenwood is all too aware of the tough set of Middle 8s fixtures awaiting his side.

“We did it last year and made sure we cemented our place in Super League,” said the former Wigan Warriors forward.

“We have got a big fight on our hands, obviously it’s probably going to be tougher this year with the teams that are down there and the teams in the Championship.

“We have just to knuckle down in training and get ready for these next eight weeks.

“When you look at the bottom four, who would have thought that at the start of the season?

“But, Leeds are coming into form now. It will definitely be a lot tougher now than it was last year.”

Last season Hull KR finished with 18 points from their 23 games, winning nine and losing 14. This year they have 14 points from 22 games, ahead of tonight’s Yorkshire derby.

By comparison, Leeds finished with 33 points (16 wins) last term, but this year they have 14 points from 22 games. Huddersfield had 28 points (13 wins) in 2015; this season they have just 12 points from 22 games.

Having lost 36-12 to city rivals Hull FC a week ago, Rovers have had plenty of time to lick their wounds. Victory tonight against a resurgent Leeds – who have beaten Hull FC and Wigan in recent weeks – would be a statement of intent ahead of the Middle 8s.

And it would complete a notable double having beaten the Rhinos at Headingley 30-10 earlier in the season, thanks to Shaun Lunt’s brace of tries.

“Leeds are Leeds, at the end of the day, it doesn’t matter where they are in the table,” said 25-year-old Greenwood. “We will always just be happy to get a win.

“But I think it would be a bit of a confidence-booster for us to take into the end of the season.

“We need a good performance to take into the Middle 8s, get things rolling, because we don’t want to enter them with no confidence.

“Leeds have a few names coming back, that they haven’t had throughout the season. It won’t be easy, it never is against Leeds.

“But we proved early on in the season when we went to Headingley, that while it’s never easy going there, and we got the job done.

“As a team performance it probably was one of our best, a highlight of the season, but it doesn’t mean anything unless we get the job done on Thursday.”

The Middle 8s see the bottom four in Super League combine with the top quartet in the Championship to play-off to decide on relegation and promotion.

Leigh and London Broncos are already confirmed, and this weekend, two from four Yorkshire clubs – Bradford, Halifax, Batley Bulldogs and Featherstone – will join them in the Qualifiers. The teams that go on to finish in the first three spots in the Qualifiers will form part of Super League in 2017, with the fourth-placed finisher meeting the fifth-placed team in a “million-pound” match to determine the other spot in the top flight.

Danny McGuire has been named in Leeds’ initial 19 after missing two matches due to a foot injury. Mitch Garbutt is available after a back problem kept him out of last Friday’s win over Wigan Warriors and only long-term casualty Stevie Ward is not in contention.

Former Leeds player Chris Clarkson drops out from the Hull KR team which lost at Hull last week, along with Iain Thornley and Mitch Allgood.