Ninth placed Leeds Rhinos looked to make it to three consecutive victories as they welcomed eleventh placed Hull KR to Headingley with the visitors looking for the crucial victory which would lift them level on points with the Rhinos and two points above the London Broncos in the relegation spot.

Hull KR were victorious when the two sides met in early April by a 45-26 scoreline, but the Rhinos took the spoils three weeks later when they won 28-24 after being 28-0 ahead with just thirty minutes remaining.

Sean Lunt would make his second debut for the Rhinos after returning on loan from tonight’s opponents, while Brett Ferres and new signing Rhyse Martin swapped places.

It was a Hull KR side packed with, and coached by, ex-Rhinos including; Matt Parcell, Danny McGuire, Mitch Garbutt, Jimmy Keinhorst, and Weller Hauraki.

Legendary Super League coach Tony Smith took charge for the first time as his Hull KR side took on the Wigan Warriors in a curcial game down the wrong end of the Super League table.

It was ninth against eleventh as both sides looked to get away from the perilous bottom spot.

This was the first meeting between the two sides this season but Hull KR recorded a loss in the Challenge Cup last weekend, whereas Wigan had a week off and came into the game the fresher of the two sides.

KR skipper Joel Tomkins was back after missing last weekend through suspension, but Danny McGuire was unavailable after picking up an injury during training yesterday.

Liam Farrell was back in the Cherry and White after an injury lay off.

Hull KR were bidding to be the second side from the city to make the semi-finals of the Coral Challenge Cup, after their Black & White neighbours coasted past the holders yesterday.

The daunting obstacle in their way was Super League's second placed Warrington Wolves, who themselves have a pretty decent Challenge Cup pedigree.

It was second top against second bottom, but both knew that the unpredictability of the cup could go either way.

Both sides had good wins at the Magic Weekend, but Warrington had the advantage of having won both previous league meetings between the two sides.

KR were without their skipper Joel Tomkins after he was found guilty of a dangerous contact last weekend, with Owen Harrison being brought into the side.

Steve Price named an unchanged Wolves side as they looked to edge closer to their third final in the last four years.

Having never met at the Magic Weekend before the Salford Red Devils and Hull KR were both hoping to register the win and collect the important two points.

A win for the Red Devils would lift them into fifth spot and a play-off place, while a win for KR would leave Leeds and London fighting to avoid bottom spot in the 15:30 kick-off.

The Robins sprung a surprise a fortnight ago when they eliminated Salford from the Challenge Cup but the Red Devils were the victors, by just two points, when the sides met back in February.

The Leeds and London fans inside Anfield were cheering on the Salford side against a Hull side containing six past Rhinos players.

After yesterdays festival of rugby, it was a fitting start to Sundays feast.

Even at the quarter season stage, tonights match was a must win for both combatents as Hull KR hosted the Leeds Rhinos.

A win for KR would lift them into seventh spot in a tight bottom half of the Super League table but a loss by twenty-five points or more would see them into bottom spot.

For the Rhinos, a win by fifteen points would see them up to ninth, but a loss would cut them further adrift at the bottom.

The Robins brought Taioalo Vaivai, Robbie Mulhern, and Rhinos old boy, Danny McGuire into their starting line-up after a narrow defeat at the league leaders, St Helens, last weekend.

The Rhinos were without Richie Myler who picked up a suspension after last weeks Golden Point win against the Castleford Tigers, and had trialist Wellington Albert on the bench for his first outing in the Blue and Amber.

Nothing warms the cockles of ones heart like the prospect of a Hull derby on one of the coldest nights of the year.

A KCOM Craven Park, packed to the gills with the colours of the Robins and the Airlie Birds was raucous with anticipation of the season opener.

Both sides had disappointing 2018 seasons, Hull KR battling it out for survival in the middle eights and Hull FC losing their last eleven games, and had reshaped their squads over the winter.

The visitors were the favourites but with a vastly changed line-up it was Tim Sheens who were the mystery package.

The orange balls were brought out on a very firm pitch with the expectations of some snow or sleet during the eighty.

While the temperatures in the stands were sub-zero, on the pitch it was likely to be red hot.

For the first time in their short history the Toronto Wolfpack faced Super League opposition in Canada as Hull KR arrived in town for the second round of the Qualifiers.

The Robins knew  that a loss would put them in all sorts of trouble in terms of ensuring that they retain their Super League status.

After a victory over Halifax last week the Wolfpack were looking for a second consecutive win to put them in pole position to secure top flight football for 2019.

Both sides were without a number of stars.

KR travelled without Todd Carney while the Wolfpack were missing Liam Kay and Matty Russell.

It was likely to be a nerve racking evening at the Lampart Stadium for both sets of players and their supporters.

The Leeds Rhinos were back in Hull, the scene of their one-point defeat heatbreak last weekend, hoping to turn round a mini-dip in form against tenth placed Hull KR who needed the win to avoid being cut further adrift in the league table.

There were wholesale changes for the Robins after last weeks cup win over Oldham with Danny McGuire back in the side to face his previous employers for the first time on home soil.

  The Rhinos made just one change with Brad Singleton in for Cameron Smith with Brett Delaney moving to the bench as coach McDermott had his eyes on fifth spot after Hull FC’s slip up in the south of France last night.

Hull KR were on the road for the second consecutive weekend as they travelled to Huddersfield to take on the Giants looking to capitalise on last weekends victory over the Widnes Vikings.

It is six years since Hull KR have recorded a victory in Huddersfield.

A win tonight would give either side a massive lift as they push for the safety of the top eight before the split into three divisions.

Both coaches made a number of changes to last weeks line ups, some enforced, some tactical and with so much to play for it was likely to be a nervous affair.

One side would settle well and have the great game, the other had a nightmare.

The second Saturday in September promised to be a defining one in the season of our sides fighting for places and promotion in the Qualifying eights.

While Warrington were hosting Leigh with a change to practically guarantee Super League rugby in 2018, Hull KR and the Widnes Vikings were meeting at the KCOM Craven Park with each looking to get the upper hand in their struggle for a top three place.



A win for Hull KR would maintain their unbeaten run and depending on the outcome at the Halliwell-Jones could guarantee promotion to Super League but a win for the visitors would lift them above KR into second spot in the table and leave both clubs needing more points.



Both sides were without a number of key first teamers and the stakes couldn’t have been higher as careers and club futures were on the line.

The second round of the Qualifying Eights brought the much anticipated matchup between Super League’s Leigh Centurions and the Hull KR side that they replaced for the 2017 season.

This would be a clear indication of which of these two sides might be playing their rugby in the elite competition in 2018 and it was a game that neither side could lose.



Just two places separated these two sides at the split with the Centurions finishing Super League in eleventh while KR were the runaway leaders in the Championship with just one loss.



Both sides sat in the top three after wins last week, Leigh after a 38-12 victory over Featherstone while KR had a fright in their 26-22 win against Halifax.

Hull KR were still licking their wounds after their 60-0 whipping at the DW Stadium last weekend.

Wakefield had also suffered a drubbing, theirs by a forty point margin, at the hands of St Helens.

While Wakefield are almost certainly condemned to the mid-8's, the Robins still have aspirations for the super eights.



Chris Chester welcomed back Campese and Mantellato, much missed last week, and both players would prove to be a shot in the arm for the home side as they steered their side to a big win and piled the misery on the leagues basement club.

Hull KR put their record thrashing at the hands of Wigan behind them with a 22-14 win over St Helens at MS3 Craven Park.



The Robins took a 10-0 lead with tries from David and Josh Hodgson, but a brace from Mark Percival before half time levelled the scores.



Cory Paterson put Rovers ahead in the second half before Adam Swift scored a length of the field try to bring themselves within two points.

But Alex Brown scored in the corner with 10 minutes to go and Craig Hall’s penalty secured the result for the Robins.