Boots 'n' All guest John Kear looks ahead to a crucial weekend for both Hull KR and Hull FC.
Massive weekend in store, says Kear
It could be a crucial weekend for the city of Hull as Super League reaches its halfway point.
Rovers head to Wigan on Friday to face the Warriors, while Hull FC entertain Leeds in another Sky Live game on Saturday.
With both sides out of the Challenge Cup,
Boots 'n' All guest John Kear believes a massive couple of days are in store.
"Should they both win, they really are in the mix, but should they both lose it will make it very, very difficult for Hull Kingston Rovers and obviously Hull FC will go down the ladder as well," said the Batley Bulldogs boss.
"Although Hull have a game in hand, we've got to remember that it's over in Catalan which is not an easy place to go - and it might be midweek with all of the logistics about travelling that go with it.
"So I'm pretty certain that this is a massive weekend and I think this is a weekend you can look at the league table and think 'it means something, because everybody has played each other'. You can really think 'we can aim for this or aim for that' after this weekend has completed."
Correct
This week Hull were rocked by the news that full-back Wade McKinnon had left the club for personal reasons, just six months into a three-year contract.
Kear told
Boots the club was right to release the Australian given the circumstances.
"I think it's the correct decision to let him go because if he isn't happy it will have an effect on the group and ultimately the group is more important than the sum of the parts - so that's the first thing.
"The thing that I'm happiest about is it's giving a young Brit a chance - young Matthew Russell who they've got on loan from Wigan is a really good player.
"He ain't going to get in at Wigan with Sam Tomkins there, so this is a great opportunity for him and you might well see a new star blossom because he's a very good player believe-you-me."
Rumours
Fellow
Boots guest Jon Wells believes McKinnon's exit is just one of the issues that could undermine Hull's preparations for the Leeds game.
"I personally think that Hull KR are more likely to register the win this weekend; I do think that they've not been far off all season in the face of some big injuries and some key players missing.
"I think an awful lot has gone on behind the scenes at Hull FC in the last week to 10 days.
"There were rumours about Willie Manu and him rejecting contract offers and he's one of their main play-makers - I know he's a back row but he's a very good playmaker for them down that left edge for them in attack and someone they look an awful lot to, to supply the ball to the centres.
"The Wade McKinnon thing we've already spoken about; there are rumous about Gordon Taylor - whether he's happy there and whether he's having his head turned.
"We wax lyrical about Hull's ability to bring the top players to the club. [Chairman] Adam Pearson signalled his intent with the signing of Gareth Ellis. Well, within a month we've seen three players who are potentially going to leave the club."
