Salford Red Devils vs. Hull KR Betting Tips: Devils to cruise past depleted Robins

Both Salford Red Devils and Hull KR began their season in the best possible way with a win. Salford went to newly promoted Leigh and were efficient in a 10-20 victory, while Hull KR upset Wigan 27-18 at Craven Park in front of a bumper crowd of excited Robins fans.

This would be a bell-ringer of a game were both sides at full strength, however KR's win last weekend has come at a cost in the treatment room. Key men Lachlan Coote, Ryan Hall and Rhys Kennedy will all be missing and this sways the pendulum in favour of the Red Devils. Billy Grimshaw won with both of his main Super League bets last weekend (Dufty anytime tryscorer in Warrington vs Leeds and Salford -2 in the Red Devils win at Leigh) and is back to preview this game, coming live on Sky Sports on Thursday night... 

Much was expected of Willie Peters' side Hull KR after the appointment of the highly rated coach from Down-Under and impressive recruitment, and they certainly lived up to the hype in week one when defeating Grand Final second favourites Wigan. The Warriors were not at their best but this was still a high quality performance from KR and the perfect start for Peters as he embarks on his quest to cement the Robins in the play-off positions.

Salford were perhaps not at their swashbuckling best when beating the spirited Leigh Leopards last Friday night, but still had enough class to get the job done. Their spine of Brierley, Croft, Sneyd and Ackers is one of the most cohesive combinations in the league and with willing workers dotted through the squad around them Paul Rowley has a brilliant squad this campaign.

If both teams were coming into this encounter with their first choice 17 I would make it almost a match, but with KR's injuries it is hard to see the Red Devils not prevailing.

As I have alluded to in the introduction, I cannot see Hull KR winning this game. Salford came through their first game unscathed while the Robins have lost four of their seventeen from last week and this will be too high a mountain to climb for Peters' men. On home soil, especially in front of the Sky cameras, the Red Devils love to put on a show and after shaking off some ring rust last week I expect them to be back to their free flowing best in attack particularly come Thursday night.

Salford racked up some huge scorelines as their push for the Grand Final gathered momentum last season and are one of the hardest teams to stop when getting on a roll in Super League. With Hull KR missing the veteran Lachlan Coote at full back to marshal the defensive line, as well as the tireless work of Rhys Kennedy and Matty Storton in the forwards, their defence could be flimsy and this is a tantalising prospect facing up to a lethal Red Devils attack.

Another fillip for backing this bet is Hull KR missing Coote means their number one goalkicker is out, while Salford can rely on the trusty boot of Marc Sneyd. With most Salford tries expected to be converted and KR's potentially left as four pointers, I can see the Red Devils pulling away in the end and securing a convincing win to begin making the AJ Bell a fortress in front of their small but vociferous group of faithful fans, so back the home team to cover this handicap line at even money.

Sticking with the theme of the Hull KR absentees being crucial, one man I absolutely love having onside in tryscorer markets is former Hull KR winger turned Salford cult hero Ken Sio. The Samoan international is as reliable as they come when it comes to crossing the whitewash and is always there or thereabouts in the top tryscorer lists come the end of the season. Salford's right winger is a mainstay of the side and the Red Devils are brilliant at the left to right shift, which creates copious openings for Sio to score points.

With England's all time top tryscorer Ryan Hall missing for Hull KR, Louis Senior is expected to step in. Senior is an able deputy but is not up to the class of Hall and that left wing will undoubtedly be a target area for the clinical Red Devils. Sio can score all kind of tries and his price in this market has tempted me in as well as in the anytime, brace, hat-trick and last try markets knowing he will not be squaring off with Hall. 8/1 is more than fair from Unibet and hopefully he can get us off to a flyer by bagging the first four pointer of the evening.

I was all set to leave things there, but can't resist a small stakes play on KR's big red machine Kane Linnett in the first try-scorer markets at a massive price. Linnett has transitioned from a centre in his earlier days into a strong line running back rower since moving to East Hull and he is always a threat close to the line. Expect Mikey Lewis and Jordan Abdull to be looking for him on a crash ball regularly and if the Robins start fast, Linnett is overpriced at a standout 35/1 with bet365 to score the game's first try.