Hull KR ran riot over injury-hit Castleford, scoring nine tries in a 50-6 Super League win.
Hull KR made a statement at Craven Park, leaving Castleford with little to hold onto as the defending champions swept aside an injury-hit side in clinical style.
The Super League rout finished 50-6, with Rovers crossing for nine tries and moving up to third in the table. Key to the performance was Tom Davies, who notched a hat-trick, while Hull KR also benefited from a steady flow of chances created by their early momentum.
Castleford arrived patched up, and the challenge of making an immediate impact only grew as new arrivals made their debuts. Tyler Dupree, Phoenix Laulu-Togaga’e, Tom Nicholson-Watton and Brad Dwyer all featured as part of a makeshift group trying to cope with an ongoing injury crisis.
It was a harsh reminder of how quickly Super League matches can swing when mistakes stack up, and for Castleford there was little room to recover after falling behind early.
Karl Lawton, making a rare start at hooker, helped set the tone with an opening contribution of his own, with Tom Amone and Dean Hadley also going over in a first half that ended with Hull KR racing ahead 34-0.. By the time the second period began, the contest had already shifted from contest to control.
After the break, the intensity eased slightly from the home side, but Hull KR still found ways through Mikey Lewis and Joe Burgess. Davies then added to the damage, pushing the scoring further as Rovers eventually reached the half-century mark.
Meanwhile, Castleford’s own errors became a recurring problem, with fumbles in crucial moments giving Hull KR straightforward opportunities. Lawton was able to finish from dummy-half after one of those moments, and the visitors struggled to settle after that.
Laulu-Togaga’e, back with the side after time away, showed flashes but also faced awkward spells that underlined the pressure of returning against a relentless opponent.. A caught high kick turned into a simple try for Amone, and Castleford also had trouble handling in open play, adding to Hull KR’s advantage.
The second half carried the same theme as earlier, including another messy handling moment that allowed Lewis to turn pressure into points from his own kick.. Although Castleford were able to string together spells of pressure at times, Hull KR’s defence held firm through multiple sets before turning back into attack again.
For Hull KR, this kind of win matters beyond the scoreboard. A performance like this, with scoring spread across the team and a clear attacking identity, gives them real confidence as they look ahead to their next run of fixtures and the momentum it can bring.