Hull KR thrash Salford to continue perfect start

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (20) 42

Tries: Tanginoa, Gildart, Davies, Broadbent, Whitbread 2, Litten Goals: Martin, Richardson 6

In a convincing home victory over the subpar Salford Red Devils, Hull KR added seven tries to their perfect Super League season.

In the first 13 minutes, Rovers scored three goals, giving Salford a third straight defeat and their third straight Super League victory never appeared to be in doubt.

During a dominant opening performance, Oliver Gildart, Tom Davies, Oliver Gildart, and Kelepi Tanginoa all made the trip to the defeated Grand Finalists from last season.

However, Hull KR’s win was tinged with the disappointment of losing both full-back Niall Evalds and second-rower Rhyse Martin to early injuries.

Due to their respective injury issues, Rovers were already without starting backs Tyrone May and Mikey Lewis, who had won the title.

Before Jayden Nikorima caught him in a high tackle, which gave the Salford man a yellow card, Evalds was involved in for more than a minute of the match.

Evalds went off for a head injury assessment (HIA), which he later failed, but Tanginoa, who replaced him, immediately broke through a few Salford tackles almost immediately after arriving.

Then, making the most of wide overlaps, Gildart and Davies won 16-0.

Danny Richardson, who took on the goal-kicking duties after Martin was forced off with a knock, slotted through two penalties to increase Salford’s lead to 20 points by half-time.

Broadbent marked his 100th career appearance with a second-half try, the centre darting through a gap to run in from 25 metres, before Whitbread’s double and a seventh Hull KR try from Litten completed the scoring.

Salford endured a frustrating night and were far below their best, with Chris Hill receiving a late penalty for holding down a tackled player.

Willie Peters, the head coach of Hull KR, told BBC Radio Humberside:

“I’m really happy with our performance. I was chasing that ‘ zero’, that’s what we want to do. To be able to do it against Salford, who do ask a lot of questions, is great for the players.

They persevered because Niall and Rhyse were both late in the game and faced a lot of hardship. At half-time, there was a possibility of Joe Burgess coming off but he toughed it out for the next 40 minutes, and Elliot]Minchella] came off with hamstring tightness.

Our middle players had to play incredibly long and were exceptional, Jez Litten started, and our halves did a fantastic job. I’m really happy across the board”.

Salford head coach Paul Rowley told BBC Radio Manchester:

“Probably one of my worst experiences at this club was with it,” I said. Everyone was searching for solutions on the ground, but I was one of the first to point to myself.

“We were fragile on both sides of the ball, but defense is everything, and I thought our defense was pathetic.” We must work this one out as a team.

“It]the previous uncertainty surrounding the takeover] is a real thing, I can’t dismiss it like it’s not been there for four months. You can play the victim for a full season if you want, but it won’t be beneficial to anyone. We’re paid to play and coach rugby.

Interchanges: Litten, Hadley, Whitbread, Tanginoa. 18th man: Luckley.

Salford: Brierley, Macdonald, Marsters, Lafai, Cross, Nikorima, Sneyd, Singleton, Atkin, Ormondroyd, Wright, Watkins, Hill.

Interchanges: Hankinson, Sangare, Bullock, Chan. 18th man: Morgan.