Hull KR boss Tony Smith in no doubt about Super League's biggest derby

Tony Smith says that living in the city of Hull has convinced him that Hull KR-Hull FC is the biggest derby in the British game. The Robins head coach experienced the Leeds Rhinos-Bradford Bulls rivalry during his time at Headingley and has also attended Wigan-St Helens fixtures.

But since taking over at Hull KR, he has witnessed first-hand a bitter rivalry which splits the city in two. Smith has come to the conclusion that nowhere else quite matches Hull for passion, ferocity and intensity.

Rovers host the Black and Whites on Good Friday and Smith told Hull Live: “I’d been to Hull derby games before, but now living in the city and understanding what it means, I think it’s the biggest rivalry in the British game.

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“You can see how it’s made up between the west and east sides of the river and what it means to the supporters. It’s different to all the others and I’m not saying the other rivalries are not big games. Leeds-Bradford used to be big, Saints-Wigan is big and we always look forward to those matches.

“But it means something different here. It feels different. It divides some families and some friendships at times. You keep getting reminded about how important it is – and what the Hull KR badge means to the supporters.

“To get the bragging rights really does mean a lot to them and I’ve seen how the intense the rivalry is since I started living here. They’re all worth two points for a win, in all these derby rivalries, but here it means more than that.

“It has an extra flavour that I hadn’t experienced anywhere before.”

The sworn enemies have made similar starts to the season with Brett Hodgson’s side on eight points after seven rounds of