WE'LL GIVE THEM HULL!
Rovers ace ready to rumble
HULL KR ace Chris Atkin can’t wait to get stuck into his cross- city rivals.
The East Yorkshire derby brings the curtain down on Magic Weekend at St James’s Park today.
It’s a fitting end to a feast of rugby league at the Toon’s home.
Atkin is looking for revenge after Rovers were beatean 30- 22 by the Airlie Birds on Good Friday.
He said: “Obviously the Hull derby is one of the biggest games in rugby league and it’s good to have it back in Super League this year, especially bringing the curtain down on Magic.
“The city feels that little bit different. Nothing really prepares you for it, it’s like no game I’ve played in before.
“It was good to have that first one out of the way, at Magic Weekend it’s going to go up another level again.”
Both teams are crippled by injuries going into such a key match.
Rovers are missing Danny McGuire, who usually shares half- back duties with Atkin. He will be out for the next eight weeks with a blood clot.
Hull’s back line has more holes than the string vests that will be on show in the stands should the weather stay warm.
Retirement
They are without Carlos Tuimavave, Fetuli Talanoa, Albert Kelly and Marc Sneyd injured, while Bureta Faraimo is suspended.
Veteran Kirk Yeaman has had to come out of retirement at the age of 34 in the centres having not played for two years. He is following in the footsteps of coach Lee Radford who did the same thing six years ago to help FC get one over on their local rivals.
Salford kick off today’s action with a game they could do with winning against Catalans Dragons.
The French side are usually vulnerable away from their stronghold but the Red Devils have been in shocking form.
Coach Ian Watson wants his players to show the big crowd what they are made of and get their season back on track.
He said: “It’s a great spectacle for the supporters over the weekend.
“Nevertheless, there is the seriousness of two league points being at stake, which has been our focus for the week.”
Action
Huddersfield’s Seb Ikahihifo wants to put on a good show for his parents watching back home in New Zealand.
The Giants take on Wakefield and it’s chance for TV audiences on the other side of the world to see him in action.
The Tonga international
said: “We’re on TV which means my family back home in New Zealand can watch.”
It’s an important game for both sides with Trinity desperate to get revenge after Huddersfield dumped them out of the Challenge Cup last weekend.
Wakefield winger Tom Johnstone said: “I think playing the team you have just lost to does help because you can fix up where you went wrong.”
It’s a big day for Huddersfield prop Paul Clough who will be captain on his 300th appearance.
Giants coach Chris Thorman is only too happy to let him skipper the side on the big stage.
He said: “I’m really pleased for Cloughy. He’s one of those who keep their head down, goes about their business and doesn’t get acknowledgement, but we appreciate him.
“His staff and peers really appreciate what he does on a day- to- day basis, he’s a fantastic professional.
“To play 300 games is a really great achievement, and he’ll lead the team out at Newcastle.”
Organisers are hopeful of beating the 67,000 total crowd that attended the last weekend in Newcastle in 2015.