Hull KR 54 Salford Red Devils 0: Robins make most of Magic Weekend gift to warm up for Challenge Cup semi-final in style
If Challenge Cup semi-finalists Hull KR could have handpicked their Magic Weekend opponents, Salford Red Devils would have been top of the list.
The Red Devils have been forced to cash in on their prized assets amid their financial crisis and remain subject to a sustainability cap, leaving Paul Rowley with a patchwork side for Saturday's St James' Park date with the Super League leaders.
Rovers duly dispatched their rivals with the minimum of fuss to warm up for next week's last-four showdown with Catalans Dragons in style.
Oliver Gildart sustained a knee injury in the early stages to give the Robins a scare ahead of the semi-final in York but the day otherwise went to plan.
Noah Booth marked his Super League debut with a try, one of nine in a win that cemented KR's position at the top of the table.
Willie Peters showed his respect to Salford by naming his strongest available team – with the exception of the rested Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – and got the outcome he desired, even if the Robins were below their usual standards.
In truth, KR did not have to get out of second gear against an inexperienced Salford outfit that have been besieged by turmoil in the first half of the year.
The Red Devils produced a spirited effort but struggled to keep up with Rovers, as evidenced by three soft tries to kick off the scoring.
James Batchelor had already had one ruled out by the time Dean Hadley opened the scoring in the ninth minute.
Newcastle United fan Sam Luckley did his best Alan Shearer impression in front of the Gallowgate End after replicating Hadley's close-range effort before Peta Hiku dummied his way over from acting-half.
Jez Litten backed up a break by Mikey Lewis to get in on the act and there was no let-up after the interval.
Batchelor scored from Lewis' offload and Hiku produced a classy flick pass to put Booth over for a debut try.
Litten completed his double from Bill Leyland's offload before Arthur Mourgue helped himself to two late tries to complete a 26-point personal haul.
Hull KR: Mourgue, Booth, Hiku, Gildart, Broadbent, Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Whitbread, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella. Substitutes: Luckley, Brown, Doro, Leyland.
Tries: Hadley (9), Luckley (23), Hiku (31), Litten (34, 68), Batchelor (48), Booth (53), Mourgue (74, 79)
Goals: Mourgue 9/9
Salford Red Devils: Nikorima, Connell, Marsters, Vaughan, Ryan, Shorrocks, Morgan, Ormondroyd, Davis, Chan, Helliwell, Foster, Makin. Substitutes: Wilson, Hill, Sangare, Warren.
Referee: Liam Rush.