'Momentum' can carry Hull KR past Bradford Bulls
HULL KR second rower Cory Paterson has warned his side the momentum gained from successive victories can be lost just as quickly if they drop their standard at Bradford on Sunday.
The Robins are on the up after back-to-back wins over Warrington and London banished the blues from a poor start to the season and lifted them into the top eight.
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High five: Hull KR's Cory Paterson celebrates a try against Warrington.
Paterson has played a key role in the Robins' reversal of fortunes, leading the way with try-scoring displays against both the Wolves and the Broncos.
Now, a trip to third-placed Bradford at Odsal awaits on Sunday, and the former Newcastle Knights forward has urged his side to maintain their improved standard to ensure momentum is not lost.
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"Wins are massive," Paterson told the Mail.
"The confidence they bring is big in a contact sport like rugby league, as momentum is hard to gain but easy to lose.
"We need to make sure we keep gaining confidence from every game we play. Any win is crucial in Super League, especially at the start of the season."
Another win over the Bulls this Sunday will see Rovers cement their place in the top half of the table.
But having just a fortnight ago come away from Salford holding an inquest into a dramatic late collapse, Paterson is reluctant to start aiming too high, too soon.
"Being in the top-eight is nice, but we can't get too far ahead of ourselves as we have only played six matches," he said.
"We are three wins from six which is a fair reflection of how we are travelling at the moment. Things could have been better, but they could be worse too."
Rovers showed their attacking prowess once again in a free-flowing display with the ball in hand as they secured a 42-22 win at London on Saturday.
But conceding four tries against the side propping up Super League didn't sit well with the Aussie, and he is looking for further improvements in Rovers' defence this weekend.
"We need to stop giving away easy points," he said.
"A lot of the points London scored were scrappy and we're not happy with that.
"We need to take the good with the bad. We are happy with the 42 points we scored, but not with the 22 we conceded.
"We know we can score points but we need to improve our defence.
"To improve it week after week is tough, but we showed we can do it against Warrington. Teams aren't ripping us apart and that's pleasing.
"It's things that we can control that we need to improve."
One area of Rovers' game that doesn't need to improve too much is their explosive attack on the left.
Paterson has already weighed in with three tries and he credits skipper Michael Dobson for creating the chances.
"My try at London was lucky and Dobbo deserves a lot of the credit for that with the work he does," Paterson said.
"I try and run a hole and leave him to do the rest. We have a good thing going on the left side and hopefully we can stay fit.
"We are all singing off the same page and this is a great attacking side, but we need to defend better."
26 Comments
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by KFCgullible
Friday, March 15 2013, 8:01PM
“I am glad Dobson is going back to West Tigers, it will even up the playing field. I hear Travis Burns and Kris Welham are leaving Rovers too. When FC get get the quality half-back pairing that Adam promised we will be unbeatable.”
by BennyStol
Friday, March 15 2013, 3:39PM
“Another thing is that these arent rumours about dobson everybody at wests tigers nos that dobson will be with them next season and also that jacob miller is going to hull fc.”
by BennyStol
Friday, March 15 2013, 3:36PM
“Slammer,Thats the trouble with rovers they dont think about next years recruitment until its too late then they end up with the players nobody else wants.
I also cant understand your angle on defence,are you saying that if there defence hadnt improved they would have conceded more than there average 30 points per match cos if your happy with that then you have very low expectations.”
by Ainsley
Friday, March 15 2013, 8:27AM
“bennystol see you missed the 12 points conceded against warrington? Yes we all know rovers have to improve drastically in defence but if we can achieve that ? We will be a very hard team to beat.”
by drspock
Friday, March 15 2013, 7:43AM
“Only Slammer could put a positive spin on Rovers defense.They have the worst defense in the top 10 and that's against 4 out the bottom 5 clubs ,however you dress it ,its poor”
by rayo612
Friday, March 15 2013, 7:41AM
“Wow, another 'Dobson is leaving' rumour. That's original.”
by Dr_Slammer
Friday, March 15 2013, 6:56AM
“bennystol, its a bit early to be starting next seasons player recruitment rumours don't you think?
On Rovers defence, the angle you are using looks good in principle but it doesn't tell the tale about how many points Rovers are saving with the improved scramble defence, a resilience to defend on back to back sets, and how Rovers are far more aggressive in the tackle.
If you look back at the tries Rovers have conceded this season, I would argue at least a third are a product of complacency as opposed to poor defence.”
by garrya
Thursday, March 14 2013, 6:58PM
“good honest hard working 80min player.. are hard to come by... well done cory”
by BennyStol
Thursday, March 14 2013, 3:50PM
“Slammer how can you say rovers defence is improving when they let in 32 points against catalan/36 points against wakefield/38 points against salford and 22 points against the bottom club london broncos.
My brother lives in australia and he says that dobson is going to sign for the wests tigers next season so rovers can get a transfer fee for him because he wont sign a new contract with rovers and he also says that hull fc have signed jacop miller on a three year contract from next season.”
by Dr_Slammer
Thursday, March 14 2013, 3:15PM
“kevsg., don't overestimate the bulls ability to score points and underestimate Rovers improving defence.
The bulls have had a decent start to the season and that result against the giants (who were without broughy) probable makes for most edgy reading than maybe it deserves. They will be without their tackling machine langley and centre blythe who has been in good form.
Rovers will have Josh Hodgson back, who defo makes a difference, and if Rovers can utilise Alex Brown in the same way as they did in London then Rovers have more than enough fire power to bank the 2pts.”