I can't play any worse, admits Hull KR's Campese

Huddersfield's Michael Lawrence is wrapped up by Hull KR's Adam Walker & Jamie Peacock.

A point would have been enough to secure the Robins’ Super League survival on Saturday but they were 22-4 behind at half-time and a spirited fightback amounted to nothing.

They host Salford Red Devils in this Saturday’s Million Pound Game knowing another defeat will leave them relegated to the Championship in 2017.

Stand-off Campese said: “The good thing is I can’t play any worse.

“That’s the positive I can take out of it. You have to try and keep your head up in these times and I have to do better for the boys.

“I let two tries in – threw a pass that was intercepted and missed a tackle for another. We let them get too much of a lead before half-time. We got back but just ran out of time didn’t we?”

Campese saw his 40m drop goal in the 76th minute agonisingly hit a post and, then, as he chipped over with about 90 seconds to go, his shove on Jake Connor meant Thomas Minns’s ‘try’ was ruled out.

“If I kicked that field goal I’d be over the moon,” he said.

“But I hit the post and it’s just one of those things I have to live with, get over and make sure, personally, I’m better for the team next week. We need to cut out those silly mistakes from us. If we do, we’re a good team.

“Instead of passing that set earlier when they kicked their field goal, we should maybe have laid up for a field goal ourselves but that’s hindsight. It’s definitely disappointing.”

At least Hull KR know they have another 80 minutes to save themselves from relegation and the 32-year-old insists there will be no problems recovering from Saturday’s disappointment.

“It’s do-or-die now,” he said.

“Both teams have two cracks at it.”

“Huddersfield survive so now it’s us who have to play Salford.

“Thank god we have a home game and hopefully get the crowd again to cheer us on. They brought us home in that second half.

“We knew we could definitely fight back - the wind was a big points advantage - but it just wasn’t good enough from us on the day. We have to be this time.

“It’s probably more important than any Grand Final as there’s livelihoods on the line and a lot of staff here today and people in the backroom, coaches, everyone, looking at this so it’s must-win to everyone.”