Hull KR vs Leigh Leopards Predictions: 9/2 about Rovers gaining more revenge

There have been a few tasty clashes between Hull Kingston Rovers and Leigh Leopards over the last 12 months, and Saturday’s Betfred Super League meeting at Craven Park ought to be one of the closer-run affairs (kick-off 17:30 BST, live on Sky Sports Arena).

While Leigh came out on top in a historic 17-16 golden-point success in the Betfred Challenge Cup final last August, the Robins have gained some measure of revenge in the three meetings since. But with the visitors starting to get up a head of steam, my Hull KR vs Leigh Leopards predictions are far from straightforward.

Hull KR vs Leigh Leopards Odds

Team News

Willie Peters continues to go with a fairly settled Hull KR line-up, with all 18 of those in the matchday squad for the 64-14 hammering of London Broncos last Sunday being part of the 21-player panel again this weekend.

The additions to the squad are centre Tom Opacic, Jez Litten and Connor Barley, with Litten the most likely to be called into the starting side given his status as the club’s first-choice hooker this term. Joe Burgess remains unavailable due to concussion, while expectant dad Opacic's status depends on the impending arrival of his and his partner's baby.

Leigh coach Adrian Lam has to do without Robbie Mulhern, with the big former Rovers prop having picked up a calf strain in the victory at Huddersfield Giants last Friday. The injury could well rule the England forward out for around a month.

Elsewhere, Lam has called upon Ollie Holmes, Ben McNamara and Tom Nisbet for a 20-player squad which leaves room for one late addition if necessary. Gareth O’Brien, John Asiata and Ben Nakubuwai are among those still unavailable to the Leopards boss.

Hull KR to win by 6-10 points @ 9/2

Every Rovers performance against Leigh since that disappointment at Wembley last August has felt like a statement. Less than two weeks on from the cup final they battered the Leopards 52-10 at Craven Park in Super League, then the 20-6 play-off win in September was a revenge mission which ended Leigh’s season.

And when the two sides were inevitably paired up in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals earlier this term, Rovers again turned up with the goods to win 26-14. So maybe the smartest money is on KR doing the job once more this weekend.

But the difference between this game and Leigh’s last visit in April for that cup tie is that the Leopards are in a far better spot than they were seven weeks ago. They have recorded three wins in their last four, with the other match seeing them share the spoils in a 90-minute epic against the Castleford Tigers which ended 28-28.

Yet they remain without Asiata, who is a huge part of their game, and the loss of O’Brien means a reshuffle which drops Zak Hardaker to full-back. While that means the former Leeds Rhinos and Wigan Warriors star taking in a role he is more than accomplished at, there is a weakening of the team at centre as a result.

And while the Robins received back-to-back setbacks recently with a league loss to Warrington Wolves and a cup semi-final exit at the hands of the Wigan Warriors, they are still a bona fide top-four side at home to an albeit-improving visiting team in ninth.

I think Rovers will have the better of it, but not by nearly as many as recent margins, and the 9/2 odds, representing an 18.2% probability, looks welcoming to me.

Josh Charnley or Ryan Hall to score last try in the game @ 5/1

Josh Charnley has 239 career Super League tries to his name, placing him third in the all-time standings. Ryan Hall has 246, putting him second.

Both left wingers will probably hold the number-one spot in the near future, with a single touchdown this weekend being enough for Hall to go level with his old mate Danny McGuire at the top.

And Charnley shouldn’t take too long in deposing Hall once the former England winger starts to wind down his glittering career in 2025 with the Leeds Rhinos.

In a match which ought to see chances down the middle at a premium, stylish plays on the edges could give most of the better opportunities to the outside backs, and that might well open it up for the scorers of a combined 485 tries between them.

Betfred are offering up their Super League Double Delight, whereby if you place a winning bet on a first tryscorer who then adds a second try later in the game, they'll pay out double the odds.

But I'm thinking that either one of Charnley or Hall are a good shout to cross against tiring defences late on, and I like the look of 5/1 in the #PickYourPunt range for either of the deadly finishers to end the game with a try.

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