Hull KR v Salford Red Devils- Rovers’ Jordan Abdull has sympathy for the Devils in final countdown

HULL KR stand-off Jordan Abdull admits he feels sympathy for today’s opponents Salford Red Devils as they face a Super League game so close to the Challenge Cup final.
SYMPATHY: Hull KR's Jordan Abdull. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comSYMPATHY: Hull KR's Jordan Abdull. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
SYMPATHY: Hull KR's Jordan Abdull. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Bottom-placed Rovers will fancy their chances of ending a five-match losing run when they take on Salford at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium. Ian Watson’s side are in action against Leeds Rhinos at Wembley on Saturday in the club’s first Challenge Cup final for 51 years.

Understandably, Salford will rest some of their players today but at least five are expected to play in both matches.

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Abdull said: “I’d like to think I’ll be playing in some cup finals myself in the coming years and one thing you wouldn’t want to be doing four days before is playing another game. You’d want to be putting everything into getting your mind and body right to play in a final and get some silverware at the end of that game.

“I do feel for them with how close it is to the final. But some of their fringe players have a good opportunity now to put their best foot forward to get into that 17 that’s going to play at Wembley.

“They’re going to come out all guns blazing. They’ve got the confidence after beating Warrington twice and a good Huddersfield team.”

Rovers lost 34-4 at Catalans Dragons on Friday and are desperate to round off a difficult campaign with a run of good results.

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Abdull admitted: “We need to rectify a few things we didn’t do against Catalans and showcase what we can do rather than wait to see what frame of mind they’re in. We need to assert our dominance and game style.”

JUGGLING ACT: Hull KR head coach, Tony Smith. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.comJUGGLING ACT: Hull KR head coach, Tony Smith. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com
JUGGLING ACT: Hull KR head coach, Tony Smith. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com

Coach Tony Smith is still troubled with injuries, though, so is limited in the number of changes he can make to freshen up his own squad after a short turnaround.

Meanwhile, incoming chief executive Paul Lakin has penned an open letter to fans ahead of his return to the club on November 1.

He worked there from 2004 to 2008 and, after spells in Premier League football, hopes to now help Rovers “break the cycle” they find themselves in.

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He said: “Our club and our sport faces unprecedented challenges with Covid-19 at present and I’ve no doubts you will have some questions about the future.

“We face the most pivotal moment in our history. I see that as a challenge and opportunity in equal measures, but it needs us all to unite and move onwards together. No grand visions and statements, simply hard work knowing that if we all come together we will create new positive momentum and break the cycle we find ourselves in. We need to respect our past, but it’s time to create some new history.”

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