Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR Prediction: 100 up for Ashton but champs to prevail

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Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR Odds

Team News

Warrington have an unchanged squad to the one that led 12-0 at Wigan last week before being overrun by the energetic Warriors youngsters after half-time.

The unfortunate Josh Thewlis requires surgery having been sidelined with adductor and ankle issues that will now see the talented 24-year-old out for another four-to-six weeks.

Starting full-back Cai Taylor-Wray has had wretched luck with injuries too following his electrifying start to the season, and after being named in last week's squad you would hope to see him feature this week against the Robins. He hasn't played since April.

Hull KR want a big response to that Wakefield defeat and have their big guns back to make sure that happens. France international full-back Arthur Mourgue and forwards Tom Amone and Dean Hadley all return, replacing the suspended Peta Hiku and Jack Charles in the 21-man squad. Mourgue was named in last week's squad but did not feature - he will play this week I am certain.

Hadley has missed the last couple of games through concussion protocols, with Amone recovering from a fractured eye socket at Leeds. It was as gruesome as it sounds.

Hull KR by 1-12 @ 2/1

I really like this match-up between the champions and the team who were sitting top of the early-season table. Wire have hit a sticky patch - their back-to-back defeats and their current lengthy injury list are pretty closely linked.

KR, meanwhile, just seem to have lost that bit of spark this season - a season which lurched slowly into life after the distractions of Las Vegas and the World Club Challenge, and then seemed to hit another lull while uncertainty grew around the future of head coach Willie Peters, who will leave at the end of the season.

On their day, though, these two teams are brilliant to watch, so let's hope that a sunny Saturday afternoon opposite the big Tescos in Warrington brings the best out of both.

The handicap sees an eight-point start for the hosts, which is a decent indication of Warrington's recent struggles. In truth, the attack has looked blunt. There is a lot of responsibility on young half-backs Ewan Irwin and Leon Hayes but the injuries in the pack have certainly stalled the go-forward too. Nonetheless, Leeds are the only team to go to Warrington and win this year.

At the risk of boring myself by sounding like a broken record, the start here is key. If Warrington get in front, with the raucous HJ crowd behind them, I fancy them to get the win.

But that can work both ways and you can hear the frustration from the stands on the pitch when things don't click.

If the Wire had seen it through to win at Wigan last week they would have bounced into this one and I would be backing them. But given the way it fell away, and the fact I expect Rovers to respond to their defeat with the big forwards back, then I am siding towards the champions to nick it.

The only meeting so far this season was that cup semi won 32-12 by Rovers. I think this will be tighter and really could go either way.