Head to Head

At Provident Stadium	Last 8 Meetings	Away from Home
WIN 34-12, 17/03/2013	WON 4 LOST 4 DRAW 0	LOST 28-18, 02/06/2013
WIN 32-26, 10/08/2012		WIN 24-36, 10/03/2012
LOST 8-34, 14/08/2011		LOST 46-18, 15/05/2011
WIN 40-4, 25/04/2010		LOST 49-24, 24/07/2010

Magic Weekend fixtures will display as either home or away

Stats over last 8 encounters

BULLS		Hull Kingston Rovers
192	TOTAL POINTS	195
33	TOTAL TRIES	34
30	TOTAL GOALS	29

In Bulls Eye this week, Head Coach Francis Cummins looks forward to Sunday’s game at the Provident Stadium when Hull KR are the visitors.

 

FRANCIS CUMMINS

 

JUST LOOKING BACK AT WIDNES, WHAT DO YOU TAKE FROM THAT GAME?

 

“In the first half we played very well.  We played some really good stuff but in the second period we just didn’t have any field position.  Unfortunately we picked up three injuries, which meant we weren’t in a position to move anyone around but having said Widnes came back well in that second half.  We lost a bit of momentum from what we had done in the first period.  They came up with some good plays and they had a few penalties go their way but we didn’t have one set in Goodball at all in the second half and it was just one of those games for us.  We compounded it with making errors and we just played a little bit naive.  We have done that a few times already this season and we just need to get over that and we’ll be OK.  ”

 

HOW ARE THE INJURIES COMING INTO THIS WEEK’S GAME?

 

“Well we’ve trained two days now and we’ve probably had twelve training.  From the Widnes game we have picked up a couple of ankle injuries, a knee and a groin.  It’s not ideal as we have a small squad so it’s a blow for us.  We have quite a gap with our young players because although they are all very good they are very, very young.  We knew in November we would have to bring them into the Squad because there weren’t too many players around at that time and we had budgets to adhere to but in times like these you have to put your hand up and we can learn a lot about yourself and your players in these situations.

 

We will just have to wrap people in cotton wool and we have a couple of other options as well, so we should be OK by the time Gameday comes around.

 

John Bateman played a full game in the Under 19’s last week, which makes him ready now and it was always the plan to have him available for the Hull KR game. I would have probably used him sparingly but it may be that the situation will force a change in that now.  That’s a good positive as is the fact that Adrian Purtell will be available.  Hopefully the injuries won’t be too long term and we can be pretty strong for the Easter games that are coming up.”

 

WHAT ARE YOU EXPECTING FROM HULL KR?

 

“Well they were a little bit up and down at the start of the year but they have had a couple of good back to back wins, defeating Warrington and going to London and coming away with a comprehensive victory. They look very, very solid and if you look at their stats then they don’t give the opposition much and we are a bit like that too when we are at our best.

 

Michael Dobson is a very special player for them and now they have got Travis Burns on the field it gives them a twin threat at Half.  They also have a big pack of Forwards and when you talk about getting a roll on- and Widnes got on one last week- then watch out if Hull KR manage that because they have some very big truckers in there.  We have to play smarter and better than we did last week because if we don’t; Look out!

 

THEY ARE THE LEADING POINTS SCORERS IN THE COMP BUT THEY HAVE ALSO LET A FEW IN. DOES THAT SUGGEST A MORE OPEN STYLE FROM THEM THIS SEASON?

 

“Yes I think it does.  They are using the ball quite well whereas in the past they were just happy to try and get back to back sets but they are showing some good things particularly at their opponents end of the field.  It’s good to see too because we all want to add that to our game but I think I will be happy just to get a few more Goodball sets than in the second period of the game at Widnes.

 

Michael Dobson is a threat for them.  His kicking game and the way he gets them round the field is important and they have Travis Burns available too, so they will be a threat.  They have a big pack that get them going forward and they have Greg Eden in there too.  Eden can do something from nothing.  He has some errors in him but there are not too many players around who can attack like he can.  I just think they’re a much better balanced side than they have ever been;  Good Backs and a big Pack and they have threats all over the field.  It used to be if you stopped Dobson you stopped Hull KR but that’s not the case now.”

 

SQUAD NEWS

 

Bulls Coach Francis Cummins has named his 19 – Man Squad for Sunday’s game. As expected both John Bateman and Adrian Purtell are named in the squad and Jamie Foster is fit to return after missing last week’s game.  Matty Blythe, Matt Diskin and Jamie Langley are all omitted from the squad through injury.  18 year old Sam Wood is included for the first time.

 

The Squad is:  James Donaldson, Adam Sidlow, Adam O’Brien, Manase Manuokafoa, John Bateman, Sam Wood, Brett Kearney, Nick Scruton, Heath L’Estrange, Adrian Purtell, Keith Lulia, Elliot Whitehead, Elliot Kear, Jarrod Sammut, Danny Addy, Tom Olbison, Chev Walker, Jobe Murphy, Jamie Foster

 

MILESTONES

 

CHEV WALKER needs 1 Try for a career total of 100.  He has scored 99 Tries for Leeds, Hull KR, Gt Britain, England and Bradford Bulls.