Hull KR’s Australian coach Craig Sandercock will get his first taste of Super League’s Easter double-header this weekend, and he’s already aware of the effect it will have on his squad.
The Robins head west for the traditional Good Friday derby with rivals Hull FC on Friday, before taking on Salford on Easter Monday.
Such fixtures are traditional in England but not so in Australia and Sandercock, who is new to the game in the northern hemisphere after time spent on the coaching staff with Newcastle, does not think such an occurrence would ever be allowed to happen Down Under.
“There would be absolutely no chance of it happening in the NRL and it’s something we need to get our heads around,” he said.
“I’m not even worried about Monday at the moment, I’m worried about Friday and producing the best possible game we can play.
“As a coach I think it’s ridiculous. It’s such a high-collision, impact sport, that to be playing two days after a massive contest like the derby, it’s a massive ask.
“If you’ve played the game you’ll understand that such a contact sport is very hard.
“There is no doubt there are a couple that won’t be able to play on Monday because of the physicality that’s going to come on Friday afternoon and that’s something that is going to test us.”
The depth of Sandercock’s squad has already been examined this season, with captain Ben Galea and stand-off Blake Green both still to feature.
Galea has been carrying a knee injury and Green has a blood clot in his leg, but both have been back in and around the squad over recent weeks.
Although versatile back Craig Hall is set to be passed fit for Friday’s KC Stadium clash, any possible return of either Galea or Green would be a bigger boost for Sandercock, but he is refusing to contemplate such a thing happening.
“Their chances are slim,” he said.
“Of course there’s a chance but a slim chance. I don’t want to put a percentage on but it’s slim. I’m not even thinking about it, they’ve not been training with the team and if I thought about it, I’d get too excited.”
