Hull KR vs Salford Red Devils Predictions: Sneyd’s boot + handicap market = value

Surprise table-toppers Hull Kingston Rovers look to strengthen their bid for the League Leaders’ Shield on Friday when they host Salford Red Devils at Sewell Group Craven Park in Betfred Super League (kick-off 20:00 BST, live on Sky Sports Action).

Rovers have won their last seven, and 11 of 12 since their Betfred Challenge Cup semi-final defeat to Wigan Warriors in May. But my Hull KR vs Salford Red Devils predictions will take into account the fact the visitors have a good record against the Robins.

Hull KR vs Salford Red Devils Odds

Rovers’ excellence in 2024 can best be summed up by Betfred’s price for them to beat Salford on Friday. They are 1/9 for the win, with the Red Devils 6/1. That has to be about as long as the visitors have ever been arriving at Craven Park.

The draw in 80 minutes is 22/1, with these two having obvious history when it comes to golden-point extra-time.

Team News

KR coach Willie Peters has the luxury of being able to bring Oliver Gildart back into the fray after he missed last week’s 42-6 hammering of St Helens at Langtree Park due to concussion protocols.

The former Wigan Warriors centre had suffered a head knock in the second half of the Magic Weekend victory over Catalans Dragons and failed the subsequent HIA.

Gildart could come back in for Jack Broadbent, who deputised in the centres at St Helens.

Rugby League Odds

Paul Rowley also has a positive headache as he looks to fit the returning Oli Partington and Tim Lafai into a squad which put 60 on Huddersfield Giants last week. The pair were both suspended for one match following indiscretions at Magic Weekend.

Another returnee is Jack Ormondroyd, who has missed the last 12 Super League games with a rib injury. Sam Stone is the fourth addition to the matchday 17 which cast the Giants aside.

Rowley will be keen for his side to build on the momentum from his club’s record-breaking 10th home Super League win of the season. While they have beaten St Helens and Warrington Wolves among four victories on their travels in 2024, they have lost their last four away from the M30 post code.

Handicap 3-way Alternative 1: Salford +12 @ 7/5

Other than the Covid-shortened seasons of 2020 and 2021, only once in the last 14 years have Rovers gone a whole campaign without losing to Salford.

And they were on the wrong end again at the Salford Community Stadium in round three when Marc Sneyd inspired Paul Rowley’s side to a 17-10 win.

While Rovers do hold the head-to-head advantage in Super League (18-1-12 in 31 meetings), Salford under Rowley aren’t the sort of team that get put to the cleaners too often.

Chuck in the fact that Sneyd’s boot could play a part with regularity and Rovers have made hard work of turning fours into sixes this term, and that could mean the score staying closer than it ought to given where the two sides are in the league.

I like the look of the handicap market which allows for a two-score Rovers win at 7/5, implying a 41.7% probability.

Tyrone May anytime tryscorer @ 3/1

Three of Tyrone May’s six tries this season have come in the last four games, and Rovers have looked like true title material over that last month.

The combination between May and Mikey Lewis has elevated massively in recent weeks, and while the Robins’ defensive brilliance (they’ve conceded just 20 points in four games) has been the bedrock of their play, the half-backs have been fairly unplayable with ball in hand.

I can see May doing the job again at Craven Park on Friday, with his run of improved form being brilliantly timed in the run-in towards the end-of-season finals series.

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