ROCHDALE HORNETS and Midlands Hurricanes both sit in the Championship top ten after having enjoyed strong starts to the season, with this game likely to see the winner going on to make a strong challenge to the other leading team.
Hornets sit in ninth place with three wins from six games. Their last outing in Round 6 saw them slump to a disappointing 20-44 home defeat to Sheffield Eagles and their coach Gary Thornton (pictured above) has made five changes to his squad from that game, with the main one being the return of halfback Jordan Paga from a broken leg, which should ensure a better balanced spine. Hornets also have forward Lukas Mason on loan from Wigan, while former Rochdale Mayfield local Harry Sheridan could be in line for a debut.
Hurricanes coach Mark Dunning lost Sam Bowring to Salford last week and he makes three changes in total, with the return of Ryan Johnson and former Super League players Oliver Roberts and Zach Jebson.
The Hurricanes currently lie in sixth place, with seven points from six matches, and after their 20-20 draw against Whitehaven in Round 6 they will be eager to sustain their Championship challenge.
SQUADS
Hornets: 1 Max Flanagan, 2 Dan Nixon, 3 Tom Ashton, 4 Junior Sa’u, 5 Ben Will, 6 Jamie Dallimore, 7 Jordan Paga, 8 Jaden Dayes, 9 Ross Whitmore, 10 Lewis Hatton, 12 Ethan Wood, 17 Dylan Kelly-Duffy, 19 Luke Waterworth, 21 TJ Boyd, 24 Ben Metcalfe, 25 Jack Hansen, 28 Kieran Taylor, 35 Isaac Reid,
Outs: 13 Jordan Syme, 18 Danny Lynch, 20 Joe Hickey, 22 Jack Holmes, Charlie McKler,
Ins: 5 Ben Will, 7 Jordan Paga, 34 Isaac Coleman, Lukas Mason, Harry Sheridan,
Hurricanes: 1 Todd Horner, 2 Matty Chrimes, 3 Ryan Johnson, 5 Luis Roberts, 7 Lewis Else, 8 Jon Luke Kirby, 9 Aiden Roden, 10 Tyler Dickinson, 11 Tom Wilkinson, 12 Oliver Roberts, 13 Mikey Wood, 16 Zeus Silk, 17 Kieran Moran, 18 Owen Restall, 19 Sully Medforth, 20 Toby Warren, 21 Zach Jebson, 23 Aidan McGowan, 26 Ethan Newboult, 28 Isaac Shaw, 29 Morgan Punchard
Outs: 14 Brandon Moore, 24 Sam Bowring, 27 Louis Beattie,
Ins: 3 Ryan Johnson, 12 Oliver Roberts, 21 Zach Jebson,
Referee: Matty Lynn
STATS
Last ten meetings:
Midlands Hurricanes 22, Rochdale 20 (L1R14, 6/7/25)
(at Alexander Stadium)
Rochdale 10, Midlands Hurricanes 22 (L1R9, 10/5/25)
Rochdale 14, Midlands Hurricanes 10 (L1R17, 21/7/24)
Midlands Hurricanes 28, Rochdale 38 (L1R1, 17/3/24)
(at Alexander Stadium)
Rochdale 24, Midlands Hurricanes 20 (CCR3, 11/2/24)
Rochdale 37, Midlands Hurricanes 22 (L1R19, 30/7/23)
Midlands Hurricanes 24, Rochdale 32 (L1R3, 19/3/23)
(at Alexander Stadium)
Midlands Hurricanes 34, Rochdale 42 (L1R13, 3/7/22)
(at Portway Stadium)
Rochdale 44, Midlands Hurricanes 24 (L1R7, 7/5/22)
Rochdale 36, Midlands Hurricanes 16 (CCR2, 30/1/22)
AIDEN RODEN needs one appearance to reach 100 for his career.
– 29 for Midlands Hurricanes (2025-2026)
– 57 for Rochdale Hornets (2022-2024)
– 6 for Widnes Vikings (2021, loan)
– 7 for Whitehaven (2021, loan)