George Roby looks ahead to Superhero Day

Rochdale Hornets hooker George Roby says the squad are relishing the opportunity to put in a performance to be proud of against Whitehaven, as the club prepares for its long-awaited return to the Crown Oil Arena.

After seven consecutive games on the road, the Hornets will have the opportunity to play in front of their own fans once more this Sunday.

It promises to be a special occasion for more reasons than one, with the club also celebrating its third annual Superhero Day during Round 23. 

And while the concept itself is something that Roby cannot wait to be part of, he also believes that playing on home soil will make the squad more determined than ever to end their six-game winless run in all competitions. 

Looking ahead to Sunday, he said: “I can’t wait to run out in that superhero shirt. It’s absolutely mega, and I love that the club does this once a year and has the concept.

“I’m actually quite giddy to be playing this week, and hopefully we can all leave happy on Sunday after a big win.

“It’s always good to be at home in front of our own fans too. We might not have the most fans in the league, but we can definitely hear them when we need that extra burst of energy. 

“It’ll definitely be a fast track that suits our team down to a tee. The lads have been saying all week that they cannot wait for the Whitehaven game, and we will all be trying and doing whatever we can to get that win.”

Despite not tasting victory since a 34-22 win at Keighley Cougars back in Round 15, the Hornets come into Sunday’s game more than a little encouraged by the manner of their previous game. 

Having twice led top-four-chasing Barrow Raiders up in Cumbria, the Hornets were condemned to defeat by two close-range tries in the final 20 minutes which swung the game in favour of the hosts.

Still, Roby insists there were plenty of reasons to be positive after that game - a message which has been reinforced by the Hornets coaching staff heading into Superhero Day. 

“It was definitely an encouraging performance, and one that was a long time coming,” he added.

“Even though we lost at the weekend, it felt like a win just for the lads to put in an 80-minute performance and show people that the belief is there as a group.

“GT and his team always stress the importance of backing a performance up, which sometimes we’ve struggled with in the past, whereas this week we definitely need to build on the positives of the Barrow game. 

“We’ll be doing everything we can to find a win and finish off this season with a few more wins, which would be great for us and the fans as well.”