York Knights vs Hull KR Prediction: Champions to romp to Martin-inspired win

The 2026 Betfred Super League season is here, and lift-off comes courtesy of the brand-new champions Hull KR, who head to York to square up to the newly-promoted Knights. (Kick-off 20:00 GMT, Sky Sports +HD).

Rovers were head and shoulders above the rest of the British game through 2025 and will have one eye on a sell-out upcoming World Club Challenge against Brisbane Broncos plus a trip to take on Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas. So what chance York springing an almighty surprise in their first-ever game at the top table? Here are my York Knights vs Hull KR predictions.

Team News

Any thought of KR boss Willie Peters easing his squad into 2026 looks wide of the mark, with the naming of a very strong 21-man party along with a rallying cry from the head coach.

Other than Tom Amone - the new recruit missing out as he recovers from a broken hand - the Robins will go with a formidable line-up against an opponent to whom few will give much hope of an opening win. Amone, by the way, might have a chance of being back for that World Club Challenge game next week.

The other question mark has been over imposing forward Sam Luckley, who had knee surgery in the off-season. He did not feature in pre-season or last week's Betfred Challenge Cup win but has been named in the squad.

The likes of Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, Joe Burgess and Peta Hiku, who were all rested for that club-record 104-0 win over amateurs Lock Lane, return to the squad this week.

As for York, neither new recruit Jordan Lipp nor forward Kieran Hudson are included, but it is an otherwise-strong first squad for boss Mark Applegarth.

The experienced Josh Griffin could be in line for his York debut after being included in the squad for the first time. The former Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity man has been nursing some winter niggles.

Fans will also be keen to see former Warrington Wolves prop Paul Vaughan in a York shirt alongside existing stars Ben Jones-Bishop and Paul McShane.

York Knights vs Hull KR Odds

Rovers are a restrictive 1/33 for the win, but those fancying an upset can back York at 11/1. The draw is 28/1.

On the standard two-ay handicap market, the Robins are 20/21 to win from a 26.5-point deficit. The Knights are 4/5 to make the most of the advantage.

Handicap 3-way Hull KR -22 @ 8/13

Regardless of what should be an electric atmosphere at the LNER Community Stadium, and the obvious distraction of those huge upcoming showpiece games, you can't see any sort of Hull KR slip-up here.

Rovers are far too professional, far too good and far too well coached to let their standards dip in the season opener. What we will find out is how cut out the Knights are to compete at Super League level for the first time.

The pack will be key of course - if Paul Vaughan and co get rolled over by the Robins then it could be a pretty tough evening. But if York can stay in the arm wrestle then they have a chance of keeping it respectable. My mind immediately goes back to KR's trip to newly-promoted Wakefield in February last season which should really have been a Trinity win but ended up in a 14-12 scramble home for Peters' men.

Rovers, though, will see this as a key fixture ahead of bigger tests to come, and as such I see them being okay and justifying the handicap.

Rhyse Martin Anytime Tryscorer @ 5/2

I had a lot of fun, and actually a lot of success, in the Rovers tryscorer market last season. Jack Broadbent was a regular returner and one of my favourite players to watch, Arthur Mourgue, always feels like a good man to back.

So if - like the majority - you feel there will be a lot of points in this for the champions, then there is value to be found further afield from the obvious selections.

Mourgue is 5/4, which is tempting, with winger Joe Burgess the most likely anytime scorer at 4/7.

But my tip is goal-kicking forward Rhyse Martin, who I always feel is one of the more under-rated players in the game. A terrific kicker and strong runner in the back row, some of his lines are always likely to yield a try with the right service.

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