Match Preview | Hull KR (A)
22/01/2024
By Brad Saxton | Photo by VisitHull
Sheffield Eagles kick-start their 2024 campaign this coming Sunday in a pre-season friendly against Betfred Super League side Hull Kingston Rovers at Sewell Group Craven Park.
Kicking off at 3pm, Mark Aston will be able to have a look at his new-look Eagles side ahead of two upcoming AB Sundecks 1895 Cup group stage fixtures against Doncaster and Midlands Hurricanes on the road over the next coming weeks.
Matty Marsh and Mitch Clark are two off-season signings who could make their first appearance in an Eagles shirt this coming Sunday against their former side, whilst James Glover, Ryan Millar and Eddie Battye could also feature having returned to the club on permanent deals over the winter.
This weekend’s hosts have recently returned from a warm weather training camp abroad and they will also start their pre-season campaign this weekend, before facing Leeds Rhinos a week later in James Donaldson’s testimonial ahead of the new Betfred Super League season.
The Robins head into the new season hoping to build on a successful year in 2023 under Head Coach Willie Peters. Last season saw Hull KR finish fourth in the Super League table, where they beat Leigh Leopards in a playoff eliminator, before losing to Wigan Warriors in the semi-final.
Peters’ side also reached the 2023 Ladbrokes Challenge Cup Final, where they were beaten by Leigh in extra-time.
Having lost influential half-backs Brad Schneider (Penrith Panthers), Rowan Milnes (Castleford Tigers) and Jordan Abdull (Catalan Dragons – Loan) over the last couple of months, as well as having to deal with the retirements of both Shaun Kenny-Dowall and Kane Linnett, it’s been very much a rebuilding process in East Yorkshire this winter.
Despite these losses, some impressive captures have still been made by Willie Peters as he looks to try and replicate last season and build on what they achieved in 2023.
New Zealand International full-back Peter Hiku is arguably the club’s best capture of the season, coming back across to England having previously turned out for Warrington Wolves a couple of seasons.
Tyrone May is expected to line-up in the halves this season alongside youngster Mikey Lewis. having joined the Robins from Catalan Dragons on a two-year deal.
Former Bradford Bulls second-rower AJ Wallace will hope to also make an impression for his new side having signed terms with the Super League side for 2024. He’s already made an appearance in pre-season against his former side, having featured for Featherstone Rovers on dual registration two weeks ago.
Tickets
Tickets reamin on sale through the host club for Sunday’s game and are available to purchase online here: Event Tickets List - eTickets (eticketing.co.uk)
Prices for the following areas of the stadium are as follows.
East / North / Well
Adults- £12
Concessions – £7
Juniors – £5
West
Adults- £14
Concession- £8
Juniors- £6
Head-to-Head
It will be the first time this weekend that both Hull KR and Sheffield Eagles will have played each other since 2017 following on from Hull Kingston Rovers’ relegation from Super League.
Their stay in the Betfred Championship may have only lasted one singular season before returning to the top-tier of European Rugby League, but over the course of the 2017 season, both sides went head-to-head three times.
The Eagles travelled to Hull for Round 5 of the 2017 Betfred Championship season and then again in the Challenge Cup only two weeks later, which both of those games ending in defeat for Mark Aston’s side.
The most recent meeting between the two sides was on Sunday 25th June 2017, where Hull KR ran out as 40-18 winners at the Beaumont Legal Stadium in Wakefield.
How to follow the game
Not heading to Hull this coming Sunday? If not, here a list of ways for you to be able to keep up to date with what goes on at the game.
Live Match Coverage on X
Post-Match Report on Official Club Website
Post-Match Interviews on Official YouTube channel
