Betfred Super League; Hull KR v Hull FC betting preview, tips & where to watch

TV: Sky Sports Arena & Main Event, 7.45pm Thursday

Back in frosty February in the opening week of the Betfred Super League season, Hull KR fans were looking forward to 2019 with optimism after a last-gasp Jimmy Keinhorst try gave them an epic win over Hull at KCom Craven Park.

It was a 12th successive league loss for the Black & Whites after their dismal end to 2018. Questions were being asked of coach Lee Radford and his squad and a successful season seemed unlikely.

Less than five months later, the picture looks very different.

On Good Friday, Hull hammered Rovers 56-12 at the KCom Stadium and they have soared to third in the table and into the semi-finals of the Coral Challenge Cup.

They have won their last four games, scoring 167 points in the process.

By contrast, the Robins are in a battle for survival. Coach Tim Sheens was sacked and replaced by Tony Smith and a defeat at relegation rivals London a week ago left KR bottom of the pile with ten games remaining.

Rovers were backed from 7-4 to 6-5 to win the February derby and the money was right but this week it is Hull who have been popular with punters.

The visitors have shortened to 4-9 and the handicap has been hiked to eight points.

It’s not difficult to see why. Their recent form has been superb and Radford will field a much stronger side than on their previous trip to east Hull.

Star men Albert Kelly and Jake Connor were both missing that night but should play this time and the two mercurial talents are 6-1 joint favourites in the man-of-the-match market.

Rovers have received positive injury news with veteran half-back Danny McGuire and forward Mitch Garbutt expected to return. Hooker Matt Parcell will make his debut after a swap deal with Leeds that saw Shaun Lunt move in the opposite direction.

Clearly, a Hull win is the likeliest outcome but punters should be wary as the Black & Whites have an alarming habit of throwing in the occasional shocker. Three times this year they have conceded over 50 points.

And Rovers have shown plenty of bottle for the battle in their two home games under Smith, defeating Warrington 16-14 and going down 19-18 to Wigan.

Given their increasingly desperate situation at the foot of the table, the hosts can be expected to put up a fight so backing a narrow away win is preferred. Taking them to win by ten points or fewer looks value.

So does the 11-4 against a drop-goal being kicked given the fact Hull half-back Marc Sneyd is an ace exponent with half a dozen to his name this season.

Recommendations
Hull to win by one to ten points
1pt 100-30 Ladbrokes
A drop-goal to be kicked
1pt 11-4 Hills

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