Hull KR vs Salford Red Devils Predictions: Sneyd’s boot in the spotlight

| March 21 |

4 mins read

After a fascinating first five rounds of the Betfred Super League season, the country’s leading clubs will be tested in a whole new environment this weekend as the Betfred Challenge Cup reaches the sixth round, starting with Hull Kingston Rovers against Salford Red Devils on Friday night (20:00 GMT).

One of the stand-out ties pits together two clubs who have worked their way into the top six of the table in the early going, with our Hull KR v Salford Red Devils predictions anticipating a tight contest as a result.

Hull KR v Salford Red Devils Tips

Hull KR to win by 1-12 points @ 21/10
Hull KR half-time/Hull KR full-time @ 4/5

Team news

The 2023 runners-up, Hull Kingston Rovers are missing star half-back Mikey Lewis after he failed a Head Injury Assessment in the 24-12 victory at Huddersfield Giants last Saturday, and back-up option Ben Reynolds is cup-tied having only recently signed from a Featherstone Rovers side he represented in a 72-0 third-round win over Thatto Heath Crusaders.

George King is also on the missing list having picked up a hamstring injury moments after entering the field at the John Smith’s Stadium last week, meaning coach Willie Peters is forced into a couple of changes. Louis Senior and Reiss Butterworth, the latter fresh off the back of a promising two-week loan with the London Broncos, have been called up in their stead.

Salford welcome back three players who have missed out in recent weeks. Cade Cust returns following a failed HIA during the shock 24-20 Super League win over St Helens a fortnight ago, while Ollie Partington is back having missed four matches with an ankle injury.

There is also a potential debut for Joe Mellor, the former Harlequins, Wigan, Widnes, Toronto and Leigh half having not been available to Paul Rowley yet this season due to a muscle injury.

Hull KR to win by 1-12 points @ 21/10

These two clubs seem to have slugged out a fair few battles for a number of years now, most memorably in that 2016 Million Pound Game when Salford came from 18-10 down with two minutes left to relegate Rovers in a dramatic 19-18 success.

Rovers were 28-10 winners over the Red Devils in the quarter-final of this same competition last year on a day when Salford just didn’t bring their ‘A’ game to Craven Park, and Paul Rowley will be looking for a vast improvement on that performance on Friday night.

The home side took a few games to get going this season, but their switch-up in the back line against Huddersfield last time out resulted in their best performance yet, with Peta Hiku scoring two tries from centre and Niall Evalds recording three try assists in replacing the Kiwi at full-back.

Marc Sneyd will still be kicking himself after his decision to attempt a short drop-out in the dying moments of last week’s clash with Wigan lost the Red Devils a late lead, and his performance with the boot could have a say once more here.

I’m favouring Rovers here though, with Willie Peters making it clear from his pre-match press and his squad selection alike that he is intent to take his side one further this year. They should have enough to secure a narrow win, with the 21/10 odds implying a 32.3% probability.

Hull KR half-time/full-time @ 4/5

Rovers flew out of the blocks when these two met in the quarter-finals last season, and while they would do well to match that 18-0 half-time lead in this encounter, they also have a point to prove against the Red Devils.

Salford were the fast starters in their recent Super League clash in damp conditions at the Salford Community Stadium, giving Rovers plenty to do after charging to a 16-0 advantage. All of which means Peters will be insisting his troops get onto the front foot early on Friday.

So I’m backing the home side to get a first-half lead and holding on to it.