Sam Burgess on Warrington Wolves vs Hull KR in Round 11

Sam Burgess may have stopped short of giving a definitive answer to that question, he admitted it is going to take “a good team effort” to beat the side he says are Super League’s best on current form.

It is hard to argue with that statement – while both sides are among the six logjammed together on 14 points, Rovers come into the game having beaten St Helens and Wigan Warriors in back-to-back weeks.

No aspersions should be cast about the title credentials of the men from East Hull – Willie Peters’ side are very much the real deal and they will be looking to send out another message affirming that at The Halliwell Jones Stadium.

Hull KR thrashed St Helens 40-20 on Saturday having beaten Wigan Warriors the previous week (Image: SWPix.com)

Warrington’s own start to the season, including a Round Four win at Craven Park that is getting more valuable by the week, has seen them also talked about as contenders and they too have a chance to prove their credentials.

All of those ingredients combined with a forecast for a dry and still evening in Warrington bring about the tantalising prospect of a contest to remember.

“You’d probably say they’re the form team in the league having beaten Wigan and Saints in consecutive weeks,” Burgess said.

“They’re in some good form and they play a great style of rugby. They do test you out so we’re going to have to be good.

“You look at their results and performances and they’re there or thereabouts. The evidence is in their performances – that’s the best place to look.

“It’s going to take a big performance but we’re constantly trying to improve.

“I thought we were really good last week, really professional in tough conditions. It’s supposed to be dry on Thursday so we’ll manage that again, but it’s going to take a good team effort.

“We’ve got to be on our game and we’re looking forward to it.”

The match reunites Burgess with a man he considers a good friend in Rovers head coach Peters, who was heavily involved at South Sydney Rabbitohs both behind the scenes and latterly as part of the coaching staff during Burgess’ two spells with the club.

That was before taking up his first top-flight head coaching role with the Robins, whom he guided to the Challenge Cup Final and a top-four Super League finish in his first season in charge last year.

“He’s done a magical job – I’m a big fan of him,” Burgess said.

“I’m great friends with him and I’m a big fan of what he’s done for Hull KR.

“Everyone there will be very proud of what he’s brought not only to the club but to the community and the area.

“He’s done a fantastic job, he really has.”

It will not be their first time coaching against each other – as previously mentioned, The Wire do own a victory over KR this year having edged a thrilling contest at Craven Park in March.

A late Matt Dufty try secured a 22-20 victory for Warrington that remains the stand-out Super League result under Burgess to date.

The Wire boss, however, believes both teams will be much better than they were that night having admitted they “got away with it” in Round Four.

Matt Dufty celebrates the winning try at Craven Park in March (Image: SWPix.com)

“It was a good game that could have gone either way,” he said.

“They bombed a few tries – we bombed one in the second half but they probably bombed more than we did.

“We got away with it I’d say but it was a great contest and we’re expecting more of the same in better conditions.”

When asked whether or not he thought Hull KR had improved since then, he added: “I’d agree with that.

“Their combinations are that bit better – they’ve moved (Peta) Hiku into the centres and put Niall Evalds to full-back, and Mikey Lewis gets better every week so those combinations are growing.

“They had a few new signings and had some changes to their spine, but they’re 12-13 games into that now so naturally, they’re going to progress.

“I’d like to think we’ve improved since then as well and the grounds have certainly improved, so hopefully we’ll see a different style of game.”

For Warrington, the game starts a run that has been described in some quarters as “season-defining,” with games against Catalans Dragons, Wigan Warriors and Salford Red Devils coming up as well as the Challenge Cup semi-final against Huddersfield Giants – and the Wembley final should they win – in the space of the next month.

Understandably, though, Burgess is guarding against looking too far ahead.

The full-strength squads selected for both sides suggests no thought is being given to the cup semis that follow immediately afterwards, with sole focus on this Round 11 blockbuster.

And Burgess is keen for the Wire faithful to create the kind of atmosphere he feels the game deserves at The Halliwell Jones Stadium on Thursday night.

“They’re all important. Last week was important and this is just the same,” he said.

“It’s a team who are in form, so you’d think we’re going to have to nail all of our plays on both sides of the game.

“It’s another chance for us to move forward as a group and as a club and they’re in the same position on the other side of the field.

“It’s going to be a great contest – I know that much.

“They will bring a good number of fans and hopefully the Wire fans can get amongst it and create a good atmosphere because the game will deserve it.”

On the upcoming run of fixtures, he added: “They’re important games, but the most important one is the one in front of us.

“I’ll look at those when they come around but I won’t worry too much about them being “season-defining.”

“It’s important we stay present in what our challenge is this week. Our challenge is being good every day and improve whatever part of our game we need to improve and get better at.”

Wire go into the game having beaten Rovers' cross-city rivals Hull FC on Friday (Image: PA Wire)