Super League: Bradford Bulls 12-48 Hull KR

Bulls have had to patch up their squad after an injury crisis deprived them of 13 players, including all of their recognised half-backs apart from Chris Atkin, and they had wandered into the path of a Robins juggernaut which is rapidly gathering pace.

Fears that they might be in for a record beating were reinforced as Lewis scampered over for those two early tries and then chipped a lovely kick for Tyrone May to add another, before Rhyse Martin span out of a tackle to make it four tries in the opening 15 minutes.

Bulls showed plenty of spirit to rally and threaten to make a match of it before half-time, as Douglas, recalled from his loan at Championship club Halifax Panthers, barged his way over for his first Super League try.

Then 35-year-old Eden, brought in on loan from North Wales Crusaders, marked his first Super League game since he left Castleford Tigers in 2023 by taking advantage of some dreadfully sloppy Robins defence to grab another try.

Any hopes that Bulls could build on that were killed off as Rovers, no doubt having had a half-time rocket from head coach Willie Peters, came out strongly with Broadbent gathering May’s delicate short-range kick to score.

Lewis threw a big dummy and sped over to complete his hat-trick, and then feinted and accelerated through three tacklers to notch up a quadruple for the first time in his senior career.

Hiku completed the rout from May’s kick over the top and Martin completed a personal haul of 20 points by kicking his eighth conversion.