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Michael Dobson: Hull KR's former Giants can grow in stature

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HULL KR skipper Michael Dobson has called on the club's 'Huddersfield six' to play the game of their lives and lead the Robins to a win over their former club.

Rovers' recruitment in recent years has seen a steady stream of players head from West to East Yorkshire, with Greg Eden and Adam Walker the latest to make the journey this season.

Dave Hodgson, Keal Carlile, Alex Brown and Graeme Horne (although he is out injured), have also spent part of their career at the John Smith's Stadium.

And Dobson, who played for Catalan and Wigan before joining Rovers in May 2008, knows playing against the club that let you go can often be the extra motivation needed to pull off a shock result.

"I'm sure all the ex-Huddersfield lads that play on Sunday will be up for it," Dobson told the Mail.

"I know when I play against Catalan and Wigan I want to do well against them.

"I'm sure they will want to play well and get the win. If we get those players playing well against their former team, then that will help us a lot.

"We usually play well against the good sides in the league anyway. Huddersfield are a top side, and we are looking forward to testing them."

If Rovers are to maintain their place in the top eight, and build on a run of five wins in seven games, Dobson is going to have to be on top form.

He is up against one of the best scrum-halves in Super League in Danny Brough, although the KR captain did come out on top last season, as KR did the double over the Giants, scoring a total of 84 points in the process.

However, the Robins' Aussie star knows that will count for nothing today, and accepts his personal battle will go a long way to determining the outcome.

"It's good coming up against quality players like Danny," Dobson said.

"Huddersfield have been dominant down the middle and Danny's kicking game has been top notch.

"He is a very good player and his kicking game is probably the best in Super League when he gets the space and time he needs.

"Hopefully, we can shut their forwards down though, as they have stood out for them, especially when the pitches have been really boggy.

"We know we are not going to stop his kicking game entirely, but it's about nullifying it the best we can."

Whilst Rovers will look to stop Brough, the Giants will have Dobson down as their man to stop.

KR's good form goes hand in hand with Dobson's own and he, Cory Paterson, Kris Welham and Dave Hodgson have formed one of Super League's best left-sided attacks.

Now, the KR skipper hopes they prove too hot for the Giants to handle.

"We are all on the same page on our left side. We talk well and we practice what we have to," he said.

"We are going well, but Huddersfield have a good right edge defence, which won't make things easy for us.

"We need to test them, but hopefully we can score a few points down our right hand side too."

Rovers' right side will rely on the instinctive play of Craig Hall, who will stand in for the suspended Travis Burns for the sixth time this season.

Dobson has been keen to develop his partnership with Burns, but was quick to praise Hall for slotting into the stand-off role with ease.

Looking ahead to today's clash, he is confident they can build on last week's win over St Helens and push the Giants all the way.

"Craig has come in and done very well for us in the halves, and it is a bonus to have someone like that in your team who can play anywhere in the backs," he said.

"We did okay against Saints although our execution was a bit off.

"We have to keep building, as it's still very early in the season. Putting together a good run of results will see us climb the table.

"We beat Huddersfield twice last year and if we play to our best we'll give them a good contest. We can't give them cheap ball, though, as they will get on a roll."

Michael Dobson: Hull KR's former Giants can grow in stature


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