15 May 2019

THE NUMBERS GAME: GIANTS VS ROVERS

As the Giants and Rovers meet on Friday night, we look at the stats and tactical battles that might decide the game

The Giants welcome the Robins to the John Smith’s Stadium on Friday night, as they look to build on an impressive outing against St Helens. We analyse the stats of both sides ahead of the game.

Quick play the balls key

One of the standout stats for the Robins ahead of this weekend’s game is their willingness to run the ball from dummy half. Hull KR have the third most runs from dummy half in Super League so far this season, behind the Leeds Rhinos and city rivals, Hull FC. Their 263 runs from dummy half is 75 more than the 188 that the Giants have managed.

Runs from dummy half v Leeds Rhinos (04.04.19)

Shaun Lunt – 10

Tommy Lee – 8

Jimmy Keinhorst – 4

Junior Vaivai – 4

Ben Crooks – 2

Drinkwater key for the visitors

Josh Drinkwater was a big off-season recruit for the Robins. The half-back was brought in after he left the reigning Challenge Cup champions, Catalans Dragons.

Drinkwater has made 173 tackles so far this season, including 22 marker tackles. The Australian also had nine try assists to his name so far this season. He has also made 72 attacking kicks.

Average gain could be crucial

The key in Rugby League can often come down to the metres made by players. In one of the Giants recent games against Wakefield Trinity, there were some big gains by both forwards and backs.

Both Giants and Robins have an identical average gain this season of 6.88 metres, so it will be interesting to see who can get the upper hand in the game on Friday night.

Average gain of Giants players v Wakefield (03.05.19)

Suaia Matagi – 9 meters

Jordan Turner – 9 meters

Jermaine McGilvary – 9 meters

Darnell McIntosh – 9 meters

Paul Clough – 8 meters

Reliable Gaskell 

Lee Gaskell has played several positions over the past few seasons as he adapted to life at the Giants. It now seems that the Englishman is a consistent starter at half-back.

The 28-year-old has only made one error so far this season. That stat seems even more impressive when you take into account that the halfback has carried the ball 55 times this season, making 443 metres in the process. That is an average of 8.05 metre per carry.

Gaskell has also added four try assists.

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