Since the two sides last met on that fateful day in October, The Red Devils and Hull Kingston Rovers have taken two very different paths.
No sooner has Gareth O’Brien’s miracle drop goal sailed through the posts at Craven Park, had Head Coach Ian Watson began to plan for for another season in the Super League, whilst incoming KR Head Coach Tim Sheens had to plan for life in the Championship.
Eight months on from the drama of the Million Pound Game, both clubs have worked hard to put the events of that all-or-nothing play-off match behind them.
With 5 minutes left in the Million Pound Game, even the most optimistic of Red Devils supporters would have struggled to predict that the Red Devils would be one of the dominant Super League forces in 2017, and yet Ian Watson’s side have defied pundits and critics alike, winning 8 out of 12 league matches so far this year.
Indeed the East Hull side are not the most recent opponents to be scarred by a Gareth O’Brien drop goal. In a pulsating season which see’s the Red Devils sitting in the top four of the Super League, the Full-Back has scored 3 one-pointers, including a dramatic winner against League leaders Castleford Tigers.
On Humberside, Sheens’ KR side have responded to the devastation of relegation in a positive fashion, winning all but one of their league matches this season, and sitting pretty at the top of the Championship table.
With many of last seasons Super League squad committing themselves to Hull KR for this season, it is perhaps not surprising that they were able to visit Leigh Centurions in the 5th round of the cup and come away with a memorable win under their belts.
With both sides on the up in 2017, and with a place in the Quarter Finals of the Ladbrokes Challenge Cup at stake, it promises to produce high octane rugby league from the very first whistle.
Tickets for the game are on sale now. Season ticket holders have until Wednesday to get their tickets at a reduced price.
