Hull KR coach Justin Morgan will be very happy that Stanley Gene only got a fine instead of a suspension which raised a few eyebrows in rugby league circles.
In fairness to Gene his track record is almost impeccable so that went a long way in his defence. I suppose in regards to a spectacle and with Rovers being at home it is great that Gene did not get suspended. There is no greater talisman for Hull KR than Stanley Gene.
Gene: talisman for Hull KR
He will probably come off the bench and when he does he not only adds a huge impact on the field, but he lifts the crowd as well. They go berserk when he comes on - he is a very popular man who gives his all on the pitch.
It won't be easy against Wigan though. They did enough against Castleford; I thought they were in complete control of that game until the last fifteen minutes when Castleford had a bit of a revival and Wigan started to come up with a few errors. Brian Noble made it quite clear that they still had a lot of work to do before they had any hopes of making another appearances at Old Trafford.
He is not the quickest man to get up and play the ball but he has usually put one or two defenders on their backsides so they are struggling to get back too.
Stevo
Quotes of the week
Hull KR v Wigan
5.30pm, Sat, Sky Sports 1 & HD1
Wigan know that they have to cut out those silly mistakes which cost them dear. Cameron Phelps was superb last week - he really did shine. However there were two blots on his landscape and from those two blots Castleford scored two tries. I have said this so many times before - possession is vital and you have got to get through your full sets of six.
Sam Tomkins will be happy that he got that run out for Wigan last week - he really is a key player and I am expecting him to really turn it on this weekend.
I talked about Gene lifting the Hull KR fans but when Noble brings on the big fella - well the Wigan fans go crazy when Iafeta Paleaaesina comes on. Paleaaesina does what big props should do and that is to attract the defence. He is not the quickest man to get up and play the ball but he has usually put one or two defenders on their backsides so they are struggling to get back too. The interchange between Mark Riddell and Michael Mcllorum is going to be interesting and could hold the key to Brian Noble's success.
Wigan realise that they have got to be on the best form - it is not easy going to Hull KR.
Hull have a few problems - Newton is playing well but hooker Ben Fisher seems to have gone off the boil of late. He just seems to have lost his confidence but if he can get that back then they are in with a great chance. Another concern is paul Cooke. I have said it before but I am going to say it again - he has got to get more involved. He has got to give them something back
Stevo says
I cannot see much between these two sides but I am just going to go for a Wigan win - just. It will take something special to win either way and I expect that something special to come from Michael Dobson or from Sam Tomkins.
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