Potter: We need to be at our best

In Bulls Eye this week, Head Coach Mick Potter looks ahead to a ‘Fantastic Friday’ in the Stobart Super League as eighth placed Hull KR travel to Odsal to face the Bulls, in ninth place on the ladder, in Round 24.

Were you content with last week’s result?
Yes I was. We probably weren’t at our best and I don’t think we handled the conditions as well as we possibly could have but the other team would probably say that as well. It wasn’t a top quality-Top Four – game but it was entertaining for the fans and we got what we needed. We did execute some good plays and came up with some nice stuff but there are other areas we need to fix up.

You said that was a must win game, so does the same apply for Hull KR?
Nothing changes really. These games against Hull KR and Huddersfield- coming up next - are against teams that are right around you and if you beat them it keeps them down and closes you up to them but if you lose then they race away from you. They are not ‘four point’ games but there can certainly be a changeover of those four points. It’s dangerous and we need to be at our best this week.

Hull KR have been going well and have been very competitive against the top teams. They have had a couple of slip ups, as most teams have but we know we need to be good. I knew we were up against the teams around us in the next few weeks and it’s just a coincidence but it’s good because it puts the pressure on our position and this week it should make for a top quality game. It may be frustrating at time but these are the games you want to be involved- the games that mean a lot- and your season hangs in the balance. That make for a good atmosphere and the fans will love it.

We have some character in the side and we are all confident we can make the Top Eight, even without the six points.

The last time you played Hull KR it was a very frustrating game but an utterly compelling one. Could we see the same again?
I hope not!! We started off slow and went down by sixteen points and then we dragged that back in and had momentum in the latter half of the game. The players showed what they can but we have yet to complete a full eighty minutes. We have come close and we are striding for that eighty minutes where you are 100% correct in everything you do. We are after that, we haven’t got it yet but we don’t stop striving for it.

Hull KR have had a settled side of late
Yes and their big players are still the indicators for them. They have changed a few things in the last few weeks and we will try and account for that. They have some really good quality in the side. Michael Dobson and Blake Green are a crafty pair of halves and they control things well and kick very well. But we have to get on top in the forwards and, if we can do that, it could nullify the half backs threat.

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