RugbyL: Sio hopes Tilse can cure Hull KR's away-day woe
Sio has been in blockbuster form for the Yorkshire outfit.
LONDON (AFP) - Hull KR s away form has been their Achilles heel this season, but Ken Sio believes that with new signing Dane Tilse in tow, they can end that run at Wigan.
Sio has been in blockbuster form for the Yorkshire outfit, scoring nine tries in Super League, but his side have struggled for consistency.
Five defeats from six games away from Craven Park tells its own story and Hull KR currently sit ninth in the overall standings, the same spot in which they finished the 2014 campaign.
But despite their woes away from home, they are only a point off an all-important spot in the top eight.
The Australian flair of new signings Albert Kelly and Terry Campese in the halves has drawn plenty of plaudits, while Sio in the centres has been a shining light.
But it is the capture of Tilse, the 6ft 7in (2.01m) second-row signing from Canberra Raiders, that Sio believes could prove vital if the Rovers are to find some consistency, starting at the DW Stadium on Friday.
"We are all expecting big things from Dane," said former Parramatta Eel Sio.
"He only had his first game last week, but there is plenty more to come from him. We know that he is going to start putting in big performances to help our forwards.
"We want to get into that top eight. The guys just missed out last year and we don t want that to happen again.
"We need to be more consistent, start stringing some wins together away from home. The DW Stadium would be a great place to start."
Salford s injury blight
Sio and co take great confidence from their win over Wigan at the start of last month and the Warriors are set to be without centre Anthony Gelling after the Kiwi tore his hamstring in victory over Wakefield last time out.
But that injury crisis is nothing compared to the one blighting Salford Red Devils, who could be without as many as 15 players for their clash with Hull FC.
The Airlie Birds have rejected a request from the Red Devils to postpone Friday s encounter, so the game will go ahead as scheduled.
Salford made the approach because of an "unprecedented injury crisis", but owner Dr Marwan Koukash tweeted: "My club was entitled to ask Hull FC if the game can be postponed. We respect their decision in saying no."
On Thursday Huddersfield face table-toppers Leeds Rhinos in a Yorkshire derby and Giants head coach Paul Anderson is delighted to have an in-form Ukuma Ta ai at his disposal.
The back-rower has been nominated as Super League s Player of the Month for April alongside Campese, Gelling and Dom Manfredi from Wigan and Adam Cuthbertson of Leeds.
"It is good for Ukuma to be included, there is no doubt that he has deserved it," said Anderson.
"But it also reflects on how we have progressed as a team and I am sure Ukuma would be the first to point out that he wouldn t be up for the award without the efforts of those around him."
Fixtures
Thursday (1900 GMT):
Huddersfield Giants v Leeds Rhinos
Friday (1900 GMT):
Hull FC v Salford Red Devils, St Helens v Wakefield Wildcats, Wigan Warriors v Hull KR
Sunday:
Warrington Wolves v Widnes Vikings (1400 GMT), Castleford Tigers v Catalans Dragons (1430 GMT)
