Hull KR vs Salford Red Devils Prediction: Davies on the board in big Robins win

Hull Kingston Rovers are bidding to make it three wins out of three as they set about a return to the Betfred Super League Grand Final at the end of the season, and on Thursday at Sewell Group Craven Park they come up against a Salford Red Devils side propping up the early-season table (kick-off 20:00 GMT).

The Red Devils were finally able to field a full-strength side last weekend but were still well beaten by Leeds Rhinos, while Rovers showed real grit to edge past a determined Wakefield Trinity on the road. Those performances will play into my Hull KR vs Salford Red Devils prediction, which follow with full team news and match odds.

Hull KR vs Salford Red Devils Odds

R0vers are unsurprisingly favourites on home soil, with their 2024 return at Craven Park of 14 wins, a two-point defeat to Warrington Wolves and golden-point reverse against Catalans Dragons weighing heavily on Betfred's oddsmakers.

The Robins are 2/9 to win, making the handicap market the place to seek value, with Willie Peters' side 20/21, at an implied probability of 51.2%, to overcome a 12.5-point deficit in the standard 2-way handicap. Salford are 4/5 in that scenario, and are 100/30 to win the match in 80 minutes.

KR were, of course, taken beyond regulation time by the Castleford Tigers last time they lined up in front of their home fans, and you can get 20/1 about them doing the same again.

Team News

The Robins suffered a huge injury setback at Wakefield with Steve Prescott Man of Steel award winner Mikey Lewis leaving the ground on crutches. It looked to be a serious injury, but Lewis has this week been cleared of significant damage and is not expected to be out long-term.

This week, his place in the squad goes to Danny Richardson in the only change to the initial 21. Tyrone May is named in the squad too despite having missed out last week due to a hamstring strain. Peta Hiku will return to the outside backs if the former Catalans half-back is fit to start.

Salford suffered a scare in their lacklustre home defeat by Leeds when captain Kallum Watkins was forced off in the second half with a shoulder injury. Watkins is named in the initial 21-man squad, as is Joe Shorrocks pending the appeal against his two-match ban for the head contact which saw Brodie Croft stretchered off the field and requiring oxygen.

Joe Mellor and Ethan Ryan are among those still sidelined for Salford.

Handicap 3-way: Hull KR -12 @ 20/21

Two from two at the start of the season makes pretty reading for Peters' men, but boy, they have done it tough.

Wakefield had a real go in front of their home crowd last weekend and it was pure desire that got Rovers home in the end.

Their two wins against two sides tipped to struggle have been by the narrowest of margins - 14-12 at Wakefield, and that 19-18 golden-point win over Castleford in the opening round.

I see the Robins getting stronger with each round and was surprised by how comfortably Salford rolled over against Leeds, in a match I tipped Paul Rowley's men to win. A starting front row of Chris Hill and Brad Singleton isn't the most youthful, and teams will no doubt look to get on the front foot in the arm wrestle.

If KR can do this they will win against an opponent who can be a complete lottery on their travels. Salford lost and won heavily on the road in equal measure last year, but their trip to Craven Park at around this point last season in the Betfred Challenge Cup yielded a 40-0 home win.

I'm not expecting that to happen again, but I do fear that Salford fans will be looking down the barrel of three successive defeats at the start of what has been a very difficult season in their transition to new ownership.

Tom Davies anytime tryscorer @ 5/6

England winger Tom Davies has looked sharp since his move from Catalans Dragons and was a tryscorer in last weekend's win at Wakefield.

So too was his former team-mate Tom Johnstone - as tipped in this column - with both wingers finding some early-season form.

I'm fancying Davies to notch again on home soil against a Salford side who struggled to contain Leeds out wide last weekend. Teenage Rhinos winger Riley Lumb had a field day on the left as he ran in two easy tries, and veteran winger Ryan Hall notched his first Super League try back in the blue and amber on the right flank.

I expect Hull KR to enjoy similar success this weekend.

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