DimmestStar

For some time now Rovers have been a big club off the pitch and getting bigger. The top businessmen in the area are all on board and Rovers are now competing for the very best players including marquee overseas talent. Owning the ground and attracting top events plus Craven Streat and numerous other revenue generating schemes have transformed the economic fortunes of the club. Of course it doesn't mean a lot to fans without success on the pitch but Rovers are building something that will last for years to come. The fans at Headingley were tremendous and really did make a difference. To outnumber a club like Wigan by 3 to 1 is amazing and the volume at the ground was ear splitting. The TV focussed on the East side of the ground but Rovers had many more in the South and North. I would also like to congratulate Leigh on deservedly reaching the final themselves. It seems that every new challenge comes the same to them and they have not been found wanting at any time. Beaumont is nothing if not a big personality and he is being rewarded for yes his money but also his ambition and determination. A lot is being made of this 'surprise' final but the current Super League table shows Leigh as the highest placed west of the Pennines and Rovers the highest placed east of the Pennines. It's going to be a fantastic day out for the Leigh and Rovers fans and if the semi finals are anything to go by it will be a thrilling game.

Wigan don't lose semi finals but there's always a first time. Rovers have Batchelor, Ryan, Schneider, Lewis, Linnett and Hall available which will help a lot but still without Abdull, Coote, Hadley, Sue and Wood. OK that's just 4 certain starters but for Rovers that's a big positive. Schneider looks an inspired replacement for Abdull and that's a reflection of the new financially secure Hull KR. Rovers are now approaching 10,000 ticket sales with Wigan struggling to surpass 2,500. There's going to be a massive advantage in support for Rovers but how much that will favour us I don't know. I've already booked our Wembley hotel .....albeit with a nil cost cancellation! Honestly the Wembley decider probably needs a Hull KR v Hull final to get something approaching a crowd of yesteryear.

Hull KR 40 + coaches and 3 times as many ticket sales as Wigan. Looking like maybe 7,000 Robins descending on Headingley. Ok Wigan might have the edge on the pitch...might not.. but surely in these days of IMG criteria Rovers should be in the final already?

8.000 paying customers which is why Pearson has cut next years budget by £500k.

Leigh on a winning run Salford on a losing run. Both have to end sometime.

Rovers have kept their season alive here. Second half Rhinos had massive possession and mostly in the Rovers 20 .Every six seemed to become 12 and sometimes 18. But Rovers kept them to just one score and took it to extra time. Extra time and it was Leeds under pressure and Rovers took advantage. Honestly if Jordan Abdull had been playing tonight in the wet conditions I don't think Leeds could have handled him. He won't be available for the semi final but Brad Schneider might just be a decent replacement.

Oh my goodness I've got to you again haven't I.

Rovers have a massive semi final a week later and top 6 is now looking unlikely. The bookies have Leeds as big favourites, Rovers have two thirds of their first choice absent and Leeds are building up for a big finish. The bookies have Leeds at 1/9 understandably.

It's always depressing losing a derby but Hull were deserved winners on this occasion so no complaints about the result. Still, rovers retained the Clive Sullivan trophy by an aggregate score of 46-16. Rovers probably should have sewn it up in the first half but the quality wasn't there. I expected as much with 6 key players absent from the Good Friday game and with Hull in much better form. In particular taking Abdull, Coote, Sue and Batchelor out of the team was a loss Rovers couldn't make up for. Rovers are in rude financial health and are assembling a formidable team for 2024 which will be the first time for many years that the club will outspend Hull significantly. Rovers will have 3 marquee players whilst Hull will be losing Satae, Clifford, Swift, Griffin and Dwyer. Have I missed anybody? We've seen in the past when Hull splashed out big on the likes of Reynolds and Gale that spending big is one thing and spending well is another. We'll have to see if Rovers as the dominant financial force in the city will spend their money better than Hull did. Thing is though Rovers own their ground and surrounding land and will continue to make huge financial windfalls from the likes of big concerts and other commercial opportunities whilst Hull get nothing out of the MKM other than rent liabilities. If Hull are to compete with Rovers in the years to come they will have to punch above their financial weight.

Well it fitted in last year and the year before I'm sure it would fit in again.

Ooooh. 2 hundred!! That'll get you a tenth of a point from IMG if not less!

Huddersfield are starting to show signs of life but an away trip to Perpignan is a place where you probably lose and pick up a few injuries. Tip for Hudds fans.....leave slightly early and you can catch the last bus (Bus A) into town. It's a 50 seater I expect all of you can fit in comfortably.

Minchella now ruled out. So that's 6 missing from the Good Friday win. Coote, Abdull, Sue, Batchelor, Wood and Minchella. You've got to get on with it and Rovers will do but that's a lot of talent sat in the stands.

Both teams have lost 4 of their previous 6 in all competitions. Apparently for Rovers this is a slump and for Hull it's a resurgence. There's no doubt though that Hull are now playing a lot better and Rovers have had the heart ripped out of the team since Good Friday with the loss of Coote, Abdull, Sue and Batchelor. For that reason I'd make Hull favourites and also after 4-36 and 0-40 they certainly have a point to prove. I'm confident that Rovers will retain the Clive Sullivan trophy, Hull will need to win by 41 to prevent that.

I take my 'punishment' of missing the next 6 Hull FC games.