Leeds Rhinos vs Hull KR Prediction: Rhinos to stampede to victory in Friday’s scorcher?

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Leeds Rhinos vs Hull KR Odds

Leeds are 1/2 favourites, the draw is 14/1 and Hull KR can be backed at 7/4.

Team News

Leeds boss Brad Arthur makes one change to his initial 21-man squad following last week's demolition job at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

That change is of minimal significance, with young winger Riley Lumb named ahead of full-back Fergus McCormack, with neither likely to be in the matchday 17.

But there will be changes elsewhere, with prop Tom Holroyd has been declared fit to return, and Arthur confirming he will take the place of young Presley Cassell who will play instead for the reserves. Cassell has nonetheless been named in the 21 just in case.

Australian centre Jack Bird is again included but will also play for the reserves, with England star Harry Newman having won his place back following a surprise loan stint at Hull FC.

Other than Holroyd for Cassell - most likely on the bench - I would expect Leeds to be unchanged.

KR have a problem though, with their star winger Joe Burgess ruled out with a shoulder issue suffered in the win last week against Leigh. That is one of two enforced changes for boss Willie Peters.

Centre Oliver Gildart returns though after concussion protocols but forward Sam Luckley has a hamstring injury and is replaced by Cobie Wainhouse in the only other change.

Winning Margin Leeds Rhinos 1-12 points @ 2/1

I really don't want to make a call on this one!

We were bang on last week with our tips for both Rovers and Leeds, with KR battling past a -10 start to beat a determined Leigh 22-8 for a handicap return, and the Rhinos making a mockery of their knife-edge clash at Warrington to become the first team to win there all year with a thumping 34-6 victory.

So who do we fancy this week? Quite honestly both teams have the capacity to dictate this game so it may well be decided on fine margins. I spoke to a few Rhinos fans before writing last week's prediction and there was a consensus that a slip-up might be coming. Thankfully I ignored it and backed the Leeds win at Warrington. This week it does feel more like a banana skin, given how good the Robins can be all over the park.

But with Burgess absent on the KR wing and Leeds having an absolute scoring machine in Maika Sivo (his treble at Warrington was his FIFTH hat-trick of the season so far), I find myself leaning towards Leeds to make another big statement of their title intent.

I say that safe in the knowledge that Willie Peters' men could very easily make me eat my words.

But I believe in this Leeds team, and I haven't said that for a while. Arthur as head coach is creating a stubborn mindset that can turn contenders into champions.

The handicap gives Rovers an eight-point start which does not happen too often for the champions, a legacy perhaps of the 58-6 hammering Leeds dished out in Las Vegas earlier this season.

That will show you how fancied this Leeds team is, and they have actually won the last three meetings between these two sides. Those kind of runs are there to be broken perhaps, but the way Brodie Croft and Jake Connor are playing in the halves to create chances for Sivo, Harry Newman and Ash Handley, I just feel Leeds can outscore Rovers in this one.