HULL KR: Ratu is ruled out as Robins win opener (video)
MICHAEL Ratu may not make his Hull KR debut until round three after missing their opening win of the new season.
Ratu was absent as the Robins won 30-12 at home to Salford because of a hamstring injury and he is doubtful for Friday night's trip to Wigan.
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Peter Fox scores against Salford
Coach Justin Morgan is also likely to be without second row Ben Galea for the journey to the DW Stadium as he recovers from the knee injury sustained in pre-season.
But both men should be back for the visit of Huddersfield to Craven Park on February 21
Morgan explained: "Michael hurt his hamstring in training during the week. He was in to play against Salford, but he was a bit touchy with his hamstring.
"He's going to be touch and go and I don't think Ben will come good for Friday either.
"We will give them every possible chance to come good.
"I would imagine they would be good for Huddersfield the week after next."
Rovers did not miss Ratu or Galea as they rattled up an expected win against last season's strugglers.
Helped by a brace of tries from England winger Peter Fox, Rovers could have crossed the whitewash even more than the five they did register.
But Morgan preferred to concentrate on areas where he insists more work needs to be done.
"Attack is going to take some time to click," he explained.
"The timing of our passes wasn't great but that will take some time.
"It was good for Foxy to get a couple of tries. The first couple of touches for him were pretty handy.
"Our back three work very hard doing a lot of homework and extra training.
"Their combination last year was excellent and they are looking to go up a couple of notches this year."
Rovers' defending did please Morgan as they limited Salford to very few chances and they rarely looked like scoring.
Their first try was a fine move down the right hand side, while their second was a break away following an interception near the Salford line.
Against Wigan that defence will be tested a lot more, but Morgan feels his side are up to the challenge.
"Other than the try they scored from a fifth play and another from an intercept we looked fairly sound," he added.
"The fact we made them camp down their end helped us.
SCOTT Wheeldon (shoulder) and Jake Webster (cramp) should both be fit to face Wigan on Friday.
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by 10 5, wembley
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 7:14PM
“heard on sunday clinton will be here for the hudds game but probably wont play til the week after and galea is out for three or four weeks as it ratu and walker will be out til may never mind it could be a blessing in disguise they could have a strondg second half of the season,hull super league trading as brand hull fc thats not hull football club cos there dead est 1998 FACT”
by money made, to run the club fact
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 6:30PM
“fact willerby,well fact can the rovers board really depart owing millions what are they going to do get a winding up order fact,the debt owed by hullfc was owed by the club to the present board as stated fact,6yrs of profit was made by the club,which goes to help run the club,fact”
by saints, destroyers
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 6:11PM
“justinos red army,of course you knew what was going on at st helens,hullfc were winning.lol”
by mr h, east
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 3:29PM
“got a good comedy act on next home game to boost attendance . more x factor act lined up , looking at getting a circus in near future will not be as good as the circus we run ourselves though”
by Lynn, Hull
Tuesday, February 09 2010, 2:55PM
“thanx tezza NSW oz the isa lot of women who go to rugby league and we have a good womens rugby league (england) team, they were there at the world cup 08 and playing just got beat though, hope the robins put up a good game for friday, cmon u redsss”