![\"Hull](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/02\/1_Willie-Peters-pre-season-1jfif.jpg\")
<\/p>\nEarly Hull KR team news for this week’s Challenge Cup tie.<\/p>\n
14:48, 02 Feb 2026Updated 14:54, 02 Feb 2026<\/p>\n
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Hull KR begin their Challenge Cup title defence on Friday against community club Lock Lane.(Image: Hull KR)<\/p>\n
Hull KR are set to field a strong team for Friday\u2019s Challenge Cup third-round clash, although several key first-team players will watch on from the sidelines.<\/p>\n
The Robins begin their title defence against Lock Lane at Sewell Group Craven Park. The community club reached this stage after defeating Brighouse Rangers and then benefiting from a bye following Featherstone Rovers\u2019 withdrawal.<\/p>\n
Hull KR<\/a>\u2019s England internationals – Mikey Lewis, Jez Litten, and Joe Burgess – will remain out until the Super League opener against newcomers York Knights on February 12. Veteran centre Peta Hiku, who was ever-present during the 2025 campaign, will also miss out, alongside Tom Amone and Sam Luckley due to injuries.<\/p>\n This tie will mark Hull KR\u2019s second game of the year – and their first competitive match – after head coach Willie Peters fielded a youthful side against Wakefield Trinity during the pre-season schedule<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019ll be a strong team, with a sprinkle of some young guys in there as well,\u201d head coach Peters said.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s difficult to work out what the best way is – do you play your strongest team against Wakefield, but then you don\u2019t play for three weeks, or do you go stronger for this week?<\/p>\n \u201cThe England international guys won\u2019t play – Jez, Mikey and Joe. Peta won\u2019t play. He\u2019s played many games over the past two seasons. It\u2019ll be a good opportunity to give some young guys a go.\u201d<\/p>\n The likes of new recruits Declan Murphy, Jack Charles, Cobie Wainhouse and Tom Whitehead all featured against Wakefield, alongside recent academy graduate Frankie Dearlove.<\/p>\n Meanwhile, powerhouse prop recruit Tom Amone, who broke his hand in training last month<\/a>, is expected to return in time for the highly anticipated World Club Challenge showdown against Brisbane Broncos. Fellow prop Sam Luckley should be available for the opening clash with York.<\/p>\n In the third round of the Challenge Cup, Super League clubs were drawn away to lower-league opposition as part of the recently revamped competition. However, Castleford-based Lock Lane will travel to East Yorkshire to generate greater revenue for the amateur club. Peters insists Hull KR will respect their opponents.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a great opportunity for Lock Lane to get some revenue,\u201d the Hull KR head coach said.<\/p>\n \u201cThey\u2019re bringing the game here, and that\u2019ll set them up for years to come. It\u2019s great to help grassroots, and that\u2019s what it can be about as well. It\u2019s [rugby league<\/a>] not the number one sport over here, football obviously is, so you\u2019ve got to work out ways to generate income for grassroots and this is a good opportunity for them.<\/p>\n \u201cThat\u2019s how we\u2019re looking at it, to be able to help and give back – but also to respect that it\u2019s a game. It\u2019ll be physical, and a hit out for us, and we\u2019ll look at what we can control.\u201d<\/p>\n Super League 2026 Preview ON SALE NOW The new Super League season is upon us and to get you ready for kick-off we’ve got the essential season preview ON SALE NOW<\/a>.<\/p>\n Packed full of exclusive interviews with the game’s big hitters on and off the field, we also profile the new faces to watch out for and predict the biggest stories of the year. Featuring exclusive interviews from all 14 clubs, features, analysis and predictions, Super League 2026 really is your one stop shop for the new season.<\/p>\n![](\"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/uk\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/01\/0_WhatsApp-Image-2026-01-30-at-150350jpeg.jpg\")
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