Super League play-offs – Hull FC v Hull KR
The stand-out match of the weekend for lovers of fast and furious rugby league has got to be the mouth-watering derby clash between Hull FC and Hull KR at the KC Stadium which takes place Saturday evening.
Excitement has been growing throughout the city during the week in what is the biggest derby between the two rivals since the 1980 Challenge Cup final at Wembley, in which Rovers triumphed 10-5. Hull FC will be looking to avenge that defeat, and go into the match as slight favourites as they are unbeaten against their rivals this season.
Hull FC head coach Richard Agar has named an unchanged squad for the knock-out clash, which has come as a surprise to many, as Lee Radford has escaped a ban for being sent-off in their last game against Leeds Rhinos. The second-rower had originally been banned for punching Leeds prop Ryan Bailey, but the club’s appeal was successful and he is free to play this weekend.
The news of an unchanged side will be music to the ears of the Black and Whites fans, as their season has been plagued by injuries to their key players. Sean Long, Craig Fitzgibbon and Mark O’Meley all have missed lengthy parts of the campaign and will be relishing featuring in their first Hull derby, and Long has spoken of his delight at being available for a match of this magnitude.
“To witness the last derby match was unbelievable, so for me to get a chance to play in a derby at the KC is great and something I am very excited about," Long told the Hull Mail.
"Myself, Craig Fitzgibbon and Mark O'Meley were sitting together watching the last derby and we were up and out of our seats throughout the game, desperate for us to win and desperate to be involved too.
"I'm delighted I get a chance to play in this game and I can't wait for it."
Hull KR coach Justin Morgan has made just one change to the squad that was defeated by the Crusaders last week, with back-row forward Matt Cook replacing Richard Beaumont.
Rovers actually finished in the top four last season but choked on the big stage as they lost both of their play-off matches, but Morgan believes his team will use the heartbreak of last season as a motivation in Saturday’s clash.
“A lot has been said about our play-off form, but I wonder if Hull FC get asked the same questions as they haven't been there for two years," Morgan told the Hull Mail.
"We got there last year and yes, we didn't do too fantastically well in terms of results, but you have to learn by experience a lot of the time. There were a number of reasons why I thought we didn't play well in the play-offs last year, some of those were in our control and some weren't.
"But we changed mindset this year in terms of our focus and I think we are better prepared. I am certainly much happier now, knowing we have experienced the play-offs already."
Neither side have been in great form of late, but all that counts for nothing in a derby of this magnitude.
Expect plenty of blood, sweat and tries, in what is set up to be an epic encounter.
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