Home General'We're not idiots, we know Hull KR want to avenge loss'

'We're not idiots, we know Hull KR want to avenge loss'

by Luna
1 views
York Knights players celebrate after their Super League win over Hull KR in February
York Knights came back from 18-6 down to beat Hull KR on their Super League debut in February [Swpix.com]

York Knights head coach Mark Applegarth says there isn't "an ounce of pressure" on his side in Saturday's Challenge Cup quarter-final at holders Hull KR.

The Knights head to last season's treble winners on Saturday (13:30 BST) in a game that will be live on BBC Two.

Willie Peters' men have had a mixed start in Super League, including falling to a shock defeat at York on the opening night of the season, and Applegarth says the Robins are having to contend with the weight of their successes.

"You look at what they've had to deal with, with the travel to Las Vegas and peaking for a World Club Challenge and all the stuff that comes with that. They've had a lot to deal with," he said.

"They've also had to deal with the expectation shift on them, winning all the trophies does that.

"I don't think there's an ounce of pressure on us on Saturday, it's all on them. So we can go in just focusing on ourselves while they've got all that on them."

The Knights started their debut season in Super League with a famous 19-18 win over the reigning champions, the week before KR beat Brisbane Broncos to win the World Club Challenge.

York have won just one of their six Super League games since that dream start and were beaten 34-14 at Huddersfield last week.

Applegarth said his first priority was to correct the issues from the defeat at the Giants.

"We weren't happy with what we served up last week and we want to rectify that first and foremost so we can look each other in the eye knowing we've given it everything we've got," he told BBC Radio York.

"It's cup rugby, it's whoever nails that 80 minutes. We'll be going in with everything we've got.

"We're not idiots, we know that Hull KR will want to avenge that round one defeat and they have their own aspirations."

Hull KR success 'testament to executing a plan'

York are looking to win the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1931 and have not reached the semi-finals since 1984.

Hull KR won the cup for the first time since 1980 last season to secure the first of their three trophies in 2025.

The Robins had dropped out of the top flight in 2016 and Applegarth said the work that has been done to get the club to the top of the game from that low has been exemplary.

"I think it's a testament to the club for putting a plan in place and executing it," he said.

"They were relegated 10 years ago and that's a massive blow for a club like Hull KR. You either put a plan in place to rectify it or you feel sorry for yourselves.

"They had a dream and a vision to turn it around and get right to the top and over the past 10 years nobody can question them on that.

"It's not been a linear ride but there's been no panic or trigger reactions. They've looked at where things need fixing up from an executive level and a coaching level and they've put those interventions in place. You've got to respect that."

Original Article

You may also like

Leave a Comment