Over the past few seasons player movement between these two clubs has been at a all time high. The Robins reached the Challenge Cup Final five years ago and from that team Ken Sio, Kris Welham and Tyrone McCarthy all now play for Salford. Also playing at Wembley that day was Adam Walker who went on to play for the Red Devils and Tony Puletua who had played with Salford in 2014. Slightly more recently Ryan Lannon had left to play on Humberside but is now back with Ian Watson at the AJ Bell Stadium.

Daniel Murray was a real fans favourite at Salford. The promising young prop forward spent almost three years with Salford before transferring to Hull Kingston Rovers. With his old coach from his time at Warrington Tony Smith now in charge of the Robins Murray will be looking to fulfil his potential. With time on his side at the age of 24 I am certain Daniel can play international Rugby League in the near future.

Daniel Murray was a huge favourite with the Salford supporters.

Staying on the subject of players who’ve represented both club’s it’s worth nothing Hull Kingston Rovers have Weller Hauraki, Daniel Murray and Matty Gee in their 2020 squad. Salford have Kris Welham, Ken Sio, Tyrone McCarthy, Greg Burke, James Greenwood, Ryan Lannon and Chris Atkin. This will no doubt add a little spice to this Tuesday’s clash.

Tony Smith took over at Craven Park last June. Smith has had great success in a career that has seen him turn Leeds into a Super League force winning Grand Finals in 2004 and 2007. After leaving Headingley more trophies followed at Warrington. The Wolves celebrated Challenge cup glory at Wembley in 2009, 2010 and 2012. Smith also led Warrington two three Grand Finals but agonisingly they lost all three. Before Smith’s Super League journey he did a marvellous job at Huddersfield Giants guiding them to promotion back to the top flight in 2002 without losing a match.

The very likeable and Knowledgeable Tony Smith.

On top of a very impressive club career Tony Smith can boast good success on the International stage. Leading Great Britain two a tremendous three nil whitewash over New Zealand in the 2007 Test Series before becoming a naturalized British citizen on 8 September 2008 at a ceremony in Huddersfield. He coached England in the 2008 Rugby League World Cup making the semi-finals.

Hull Kingston Rovers have struggled for consistency in 2020. Since the League restarted in August they have won just one match and lost six. Their only victory was an impressive 34-18 win over Wigan. The following week they were beaten 21-20 by a star studded St. Helens team so this shows that on their day The Robins can certainly play. As already stated it’s consistent performance they are striving for as are all the clubs.

Salford seemed to have found a really good rhythm. Five wins on the trot in some very tough looking fixtures has seen the teams confidence rocket. With a huge game at Wembley taking place on Saturday some might say this League match is a hindrance. That may well be the case but on a positive note this match gives Ian Watson another chance to look at his options and it gives the players a chance to impress and cement their spot in the side that walks out on that special day in the Challenge Cup Final.

Salford will be desperate to avoid injury and suspensions at this stage in the season. Despite Watson having a fairly small squad to pick from performances of late have given him one or two selection headaches. Their is definitely competition for places in the Red Devils squad in all the key positions.

Super league away record.

Hull Kingston Rovers 8

Draws 0

Salford 6

2007 Hull KR 24 Salford 28

2009 Hull KR 48 Salford 12

2010 Hull KR 30 Salford 12

2011 Hull KR 21 Salford 8

2012 Hull KR 22 Salford 24

2013 Hull KR 28 Salford 18

2014 Hull KR 18 Salford 38

2015 Hull KR 34 Salford 28

2015 Hull KR 46 Salford 22 (Middle Eights)

2016 Hull KR 44 Salford 30

2016 Hull KR 18 Salford 19 (million pound game)

2018 Hull KR 52 Salford 22

2018 Hull KR 10 Salford 28 (Middle Eights)

2019 Hull KR 22 Salford 24

They played for both.

Here are a selection of players to have represented The Robins and The Red Devils,

Greg Austin, Greg Burke, Chris Charles, Michael Dobson, Sean Gleeson, Darrell Goulding, David Hodgson, Lee Jewitt, Justin Carney, Jordan Walne, Phil Joseph, Tommy Lee, Tyrone McCarthy, Craig Murdock, Cory Paterson, Gareth Price, Scott Taylor, Tony Puletua, Richard Smith, Iain Thornley, Kris Welham, Ken Sio, Weller Hauraki, Ryan Lannon, Adam Walker, James Greenwood and Daniel Murray.

Michael Dobson, a fantastic servant to both clubs.

A MATCH TO REMEMBER Tuesday 30th June 2015.

Hull Kingston Rovers 34 Salford 28.

Looking at the final score you might be wondering why I picked this match. Well it was a very exciting match to watch but what happened after this match would go on to be quite significant.

Salford under coach Iysten Harris had been up and down in terms of form. Having said that Easter had been good with wins over Huddersfield and Wigan leaving the supporters optimistic.

A poor run of form, injuries and suspensions to key players scuppered progress. Going into this match at Craven Park Salford had won just one of their previous ten games including defeat in the Challenge Cup at Leigh.

The first half was nip and tuck with neither side giving two much away. Both sides bagged two tries each. Mason Caton-Brown and Ben Jones-Bishop crossed for the Red Devils and it was a slender 8-10 lead they held at the half time break.

If Salford shaded the first half, they went walkabout in the third quarter as Rovers turned the game on its head with three tries in a devastating eight-minute spell.

Now trailing by 26-10 Salford were on the back foot and needed a quick response.

Red Devils French stand-off Theo Fages created two tries in five minutes for forwards Jordan Walne and ex-Hull KR man Scott Taylor.

Josh Griffin converted both to cut the deficit to just four points to set up a grandstand finish.

A Josh Mantellato penalty goal nudged Rovers further ahead with just ten minutes remaining before a super Salford try. Half backs Rangi Chase and Fages combined brilliantly to send Jones-Bishop over and a very calm Josh Griffin levelled the scores at 28-28.

Hull Kingston Rovers points machine, a Josh Mantellato.

Before either side could think about a drop goal, Kelly pounced with the winning try, taking advantage of a wicked bounce from the restart to regather and touch down. It was a bit like those Question of Sport what happened next moments. A cruel way to lose for Salford and in the aftermath coach Iestyn Harris parted company with the club. The club appointed a new interim head coach. That man was Ian Watson.

The teams that night were;

Hull kr: Dixon, Cockayne, Salter, Welham, Mantellato, Blair, Kelly, Walker, Lunt, Tilse, Ollett,Horne, Donaldson.

Subs, Marsh, Green, Greenwood, Burke.

Salford: Chase, Jones-Bishop, Sa’u, J Griffin, Caton-Brown, Fages, Dobson, Morley, Tomkins, Taylor, Paterson, J Walne, Hansen.

Subs, Hood, G Griffin, Tasi, A Walne.

Referee, Robert Hicks.

Attendance, 6,717.

Tuesdays match.

A huge week in the history of Salford Rugby League Club begins with another Super League match. The two sides have yet to meet this season. Salford have made changes to their squad but despite that their is still plenty of quality and experience in there.

Youngsters Luis Roberts and Connor Aspey are in the twenty one man squad named by Ian Watson. Kevin Brown, Tyrone McCarthy and Sebastine Ikahihifo all return with loan players Tom Gilmore and Oliver Ashall Bott also set to feature.

Hull Kingston Rovers suffered defeat in Perpignan last Friday when they were comfortably beaten 34-4 by Catalans. The Robins have lost four Super League matches on the bounce as well as tasting defeat to Leeds in the Challenge Cup. September has been a tough month for both sides with a very busy fixture schedule which has tested their resources.

Ian Watson and his Salford side won’t be taking this game lightly. After five straight wins they will want to walk out at Wembley full of confidence. Winning can become a very good habit as we saw on the tremendous run to the Grand Final last season.

Hull Kingston Rovers have proved they can play an exciting brand of Rugby even though they have struggled in 2020. Rovers are second bottom in the table with two wins from their thirteen matches and only cross city rivals Hull have conceded more points this season.

Salford sit in eighth place in the table with five wins from twelve games. The Red Devils have two games in hand on the four teams directly above them. Watson and his side still know they can finish in another high position and that’s what they will be aiming for.

This match kicks off at 2pm this Tuesday behind closed doors at Warrington’s Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Stay safe and enjoy the match.

Paul Whiteside.