Hull FC vs Hull KR Predictions: Balmforth 7/2 to score, but Robins big favourites
Hull Kingston Rovers look to complete a derby clean sweep on Saturday in the third meeting of the bitter city rivals this season against a Hull FC side showing signs of improvement at the wrong end of the Betfred Super League table (kick-off 15:00 BST, Sky Sports Arena).
The Black and Whites still have only two wins to show from their efforts all season but have run Salford Red Devils and Warrington Wolves close enough in recent weeks to suggest Rovers won't have it all their own way at the MKM Stadium, and that will be reflected in my Hull FC vs Hull KR predictions.
Hull are 9/4 to earn their third win of the campaign in the biggest game of any season for fans in East Yorkshire. The visitors, meanwhile, are 4/11 to complete an unprecedented treble over their city rivals, with 20/1 the price for a second consecutive KR game going beyond the 80 minutes of regulation time. Rovers are 2/1 to win by 1-12 points.
Team News
Interim Hull FC boss Simon Grix makes three changes to his squad for the derby.
Veteran hooker Danny Houghton returned to the fold at Salford last week but picked up an ankle injury and drops out. Ben Reynolds signed back at Championship side Featherstone Rovers this week and Zach Jebson is also left out.
Youngsters Jack Charles, Davy Litten and Harvey Barron are the three to come in, despite Charles picking up a knock with the academy last week.
Half-back Morgan Smith didn't play last week but is named in the squad again, and Yusuf Aydin is expected to play against his former club in Houghton's absence.
As for Rovers, boss Willie Peters makes just one change to his squad and it is enforced, as prop Sam Luckley misses out due to concussion protocols following a head injury in Saturday's loss at home to Catalans Dragons.
That means a place in the squad for centre Oliver Gildart, who has been out for eight matches with a knee injury. Jack Brown and Zach Fishwick are the most likely deputies for Luckley in the pack, with Brown having been 18th man in the extra-time setback last week.
Handicap 3-way: Hull KR -8 @ 1/1
This could be a much tastier derby than the previous two in 2024, both won comfortably by the Robins, 22-0 in the opening round at the MKM Stadium and 34-10 at home.
Hull FC may be treading water until they get their new head coach in place next season, but the last three games have shown green shoots of recovery, with those two narrow defeats to very good sides preceded by a confidence-boosting win over a hapless Leeds Rhinos.
This gives me enough reason to think the hosts could make more of a fist of this one, but I still can't see past another Rovers win to complete a hat-trick of derby victories this calendar year.
I went for the Catalans on the handicap at Hull KR last week, and the Dragons ended up not even needing that 8-point start at 1/1, as they won the game - with the reliable Tom Johnstone also landing our anytime tryscorer pick at 5/4.
This week I am going for Rovers to respond and, despite the improvement in the hosts, I can see Hull FC losing out by a couple of scores. Looking at the handicap betting, I'm going to stick on the 3-way for Rovers -8 at 1/1, with the solid 50% implied probability of coming in.
Denive Balmforth anytime tryscorer @ 7/2
I've flipped the coin a few times on my try scorer selection this week, with our Chris Hankinson selection also coming good in Hull FC's loss last weekend at Salford.
Denive Balmforth has been in good scoring form for the hosts, crossing off the bench at Salford, in the defeat over Warrington and also in victory over Leeds - three tries in the Black and Whites' last three games for the 20-year-old academy hooker who has just signed a new one-year contract.
The usual suspects look good shouts too - Peta Hiku would be my Rovers pick at 6/4, with Ryan Hall the most likely at 4/5.
But I like the 7/2 about young Balmforth on home soil where he has scored on his last two outings and am going to roll the dice on the youngster keeping his hot streak going.
We are also offering Double Delight on this game, so if your player scores the first try of the match and then goes over again later in the match, we will double your first tryscorer price.
You can read all our latest Rugby League Betting Tips at our dedicated Betfred Insights Rugby League content hub.
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