Hull Kingston Rovers v Warrington Wolves: Lunt happy to go the distance once again for Robins

HULL KR hooker Shaun Lunt will not care one jot if he is asked to do another 80 minutes tonight.
READY, WILLING AND ABLE: Hull KR's Shaun Lunt. Picture: Simon Cooper/PAREADY, WILLING AND ABLE: Hull KR's Shaun Lunt. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA
READY, WILLING AND ABLE: Hull KR's Shaun Lunt. Picture: Simon Cooper/PA

The captain did just that in searing heat during Sunday’s 26-24 win at Widnes after starting No 9 Tommy Lee pulled out with a back issue in the warm-up.

Lee has not recovered sufficiently and, so, is not included in Tim Sheens’s 19-man squad for this evening’s visit from high-flying Warrington Wolves.

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But, if needed, Lunt is more than ready to go again for the full game in the most taxing position on a rugby league field.

The ex-England star recalled: “It was just the last few minutes before kick-off I found out at Widnes. Sheensy came and said that Tom was struggling and he just said I might be starting.

“He literally gave Tommy until the warm-up, but after that he told me I was in from the off.

“It’s what we do. You have to be ready. It was warm, yes, but at the same time the last few games have been really warm so you sort of acclimatise to them.”

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That win saw Rovers go four games unbeaten and if they could shock Warrington tonight, with other results falling into place, they could yet still go into next week’s final round with a chance of getting out of the bottom four.

Lunt knows it is a long shot, but he said: “Even if we don’t make it into the top eight – and there’s a chance we win all our games and we still might not make it – as long as we go in there winning that will build our confidence.

“We want to be going into the next stage of the season winning rather than losing, so that’s why it’s important we carry on.

“We’re ready for any outcome. We’ve been in there (Qualifiers) for the last few years so we know what it’s all about and if we’re in there, so be it. If not, fantastic.”

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Warrington are chasing a top-two finish, though, and Rovers have not beaten them since the 2015 Challenge Cup semi-final.

Lunt admitted: “They and Saints have really set the benchmark this season. Obviously Saints have almost won the League Leaders’ already, but Warrington have been fantastic too.

“Steve Price has got them playing well and they have some international players in Stef Ratchford, Kevin Brown, Daryl Clark... you can almost go right through their team. They are one of the best sides in the competition.”

Lunt will come up against Clark, the England rake who has rediscovered the form that saw him win Man of Steel with Castleford Tigers in 2014.

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“I don’t think he ever actually plays bad,” said the 31-year-old.

“It’s just that he set himself such a high standard that when he doesn’t make 10 breaks a game and scores tries people think he’s off. But that’s not the case. He is still doing a lot. His defence is fantastic. He really whacks people.

“I do love watching Daz Clark. I think he’s a fantastic player – I really do – and he’s back to his best, which is great to see.”

Rovers have Lee Jewitt and Junior Vaivai back from injury.