Hull KR coach Chris Chester happy with Super 8s record

Coach Chris Chester has been delighted with Hull KR’s response to their Challenge Cup final defeat after they notched their seventh straight win in the Super 8s Qualifiers, beating Salford Red Devils 46-22.

Hull KR were crushed 50-0 by Leeds in last month's Wembley showpiece but showed great character to beat Salford on Sunday, overturning a 12-point deficit and scoring 36 unanswered points in the second half.

"I've learnt a lot about this group and we know we've got to be better and more consistent than we have been this year," Chester said. "It's my job to make sure that we're not fighting for survival next year.

"I'm disappointed that we finished off in the middle 8s. We deserve to be fighting for that Super League top-eight. We've been on a great journey together, with some good times and bad, but one thing about this group is that we've stuck together when things haven't gone particularly well.

"After the disappointment at Wembley we sat down and thought to go unbeaten is the least the club deserves. Salford gave us a fright and somebody forgot to tell them our boys were in party mode.

"That's been the story of the season, we let teams get points and we try to claw it back. In this middle 8s, it's our quality and class that's brought it through."

Salford acting head coach Ian Watson felt his young side ran out of steam against the visitors and were unable to cope with Hull KR's second half dominance.

"I was really disappointed with the second half. We did a hell of a lot of defending and turned over a lot of ball cheaply, which didn't help us," he said.

"Hull KR got some momentum and challenged us in the second half. To be fair, they stood up. Salford played the first half, Hull KR performed in the second.

"We approached the game in the right way but took our foot off the gas in the second half. As soon as we lost momentum we just could not get it back and KR came strong at us there. Planning for next season starts here.

"The young lads stood up well and they'll be better for the experience. They're learning how to control the game. Fatigue got them hard to be fair, but there are positives going forward."