Having been crowned world club champions following their epic 30-24 triumph over NRL heavyweights the Brisbane Broncos, the Robins are now determined to kick-start their Super League campaign on the global stage in Las Vegas.
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Willie Peters’ all-conquering Rovers have headed Stateside to join the NRL’s Sin City extravaganza, where they will take on Leeds Rhinos at the 65,000-capacity Allegiant Stadium on Saturday.
They are set to do so without full-back Arthur Mourgue, who was forced off during the first half of last week’s World Club Challenge showdown with a shoulder injury.
His withdrawal prompted a reshuffle, with Mikey Lewis switching to full-back, Jez Litten moving into the halves and interchange hooker Karl Lawton entering the fray.
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However, Hull KR are likely to want to retain their established halves partnership of Lewis and Tyrone May, leaving several options to fill the vacant full-back berth.
The leading candidate appears to be Jack Broadbent, who travelled with the squad from Hull to Las Vegas on Sunday. The 25-year-old played an influential role in Rovers’ treble-winning 2025 campaign, making 30 appearances and scoring 17 tries.
Eight of those outings came at full-back, alongside spells at centre, on the wing and off the bench. Broadbent would represent a natural replacement for France international Mourgue, having demonstrated his versatility and quality throughout a hugely successful season.
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Meanwhile, influential back-rower Dean Hadley has also made the trip and will be given every opportunity to prove his fitness after suffering a suspected fractured eye socket in his courageous display against Brisbane.
That said, selecting him would carry obvious risk given the nature of the injury. With Mourgue’s absence also removing a goal-kicking option, Rhyse Martin could be promoted to the starting back-row. The Papua New Guinea international came off the bench at the MKM Stadium last week and assumed kicking duties.
Such a move would create a vacancy on the interchange bench. After being elevated from 18th man to the starting line-up against York following Hadley’s late withdrawal with a rib injury, Jack Brown could be in line for another opportunity in the entertainment capital of the world.
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Livewire hooker Jez Litten also overcame illness to put in a player-of-the-match performance against Michael Maguire’s Broncos, and will be fit to feature this weekend in Vegas.
Hull KR’s predicted 17
Starting 13: Jack Broadbent, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Tom Amone, Rhyse Martin, James Batchelor, Elliot Minchella.
Bench: Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Karl Lawton, Jack Brown.
