Hull KR 48, Bradford Bulls 4

AFTER the Bulls had capitulated for the second week running, Jimmy Lowes could have easily bemoaned his players' shortcomings.

Instead, he turned fire on himself, admitting he had been powerless to prevent another humiliating defeat which has left the club's promotion hopes on a knife edge.

Six days previously, Lowes had seen his team leak 42 unanswered second-half points at home to Widnes. At the KC Lightstream Stadium, and in front of a live television audience, they conceded another 36 after the break.

Shipping 78 points without reply tells you something about a team. It highlights a lack of mental resolve and suggests that whatever message Lowes is giving his men is simply not getting through.

There was a sickness bug in the Bulls' camp beforehand, while Danny Williams and Epalahame Lauaki were both sin-binned during the first half.

Yet Lowes brushed all that aside when, not for the first time this season, he admitted: "You can make all the excuses you want but we were rubbish.

"I take full responsibility for that because I've not been good enough in getting the lads to be really strong when things start to go away from us.

"I take responsibility for what was said at half-time and the buck stops with me – it wasn't good enough.

"At half-time, we were doing all right and then I go in there, say a few words and they fall apart. Obviously at half-time, I'm not good enough in instilling belief into them.

"When the game goes away from us, mentally we're not up to speed and we're not able to believe in ourselves that we can get back into games.

"That's down to me and my inability to get the lads believing when they fall a couple of scores behind. I put out a team who I thought were capable of doing the business. But they didn't – end of story."

That is about as damning a self-appraisal from a head coach as you will find in professional sport.

The question now is whether Lowes can rally his troops for Saturday's trip to Leigh, which could go a long way towards deciding both clubs' fate.

As per the Wakefield defeat, this televised horror show was another sad view of a club who have become a pale shadow of what they once were.

Last season's shambolic ownership battle, which led to the Bulls entering administration, being docked six points, losing players and being relegated, continues to haunt the club.

Another year in the Championship does not bare thinking about – but a Hull KR follower hit the nail on the head afterwards when he remarked: "Bradford now look like a Championship side."

The Bulls were supposed to go straight back up this year and bring ownership of Odsal back into the club's hands.

The season is almost over and there is no sign of a deal being struck with the Rugby Football League to buy back the lease on the Bull's historic home.

The financial implications of being stuck in the Championship for another year are not good.

Things could look a lot different, however, if the Bulls can to go Leigh on Saturday and beat them for the first time in three attempts.

A top-five finish still beckons and it looks a three-way battle between Wakefield, Bradford and Leigh for a place in the million pound game on Saturday, October 3.

Lowes faces the biggest test of his coaching career this week to rebuild his players' shattered confidence and send out a team capable of beating Leigh.

The Bulls were without Matty Blythe, Jake Mullaney and Lee Gaskell against Hull KR, while James Clare was axed following his performance against Widnes.

That opened the door for James Mendeika at full back and Chev Walker was handed a starting role at centre against his old club.

Hull KR v Bulls match pictures

Both inclusions raised eyebrows – and sadly for Mendeika, he endured a torrid afternoon with a litany of handling errors.

There is no hiding place for any full back but Mendeika should take heart from Kieran Dixon's story.

The Rovers man suffered his own personal agony in a nightmarish display from full back in the record 50-0 defeat to Leeds in the Challenge Cup final last month.

Since then, Dixon has bounced back with aplomb and his four-try haul against the Bulls gave the Robins a fifth straight win in the Super 8s qualifiers.

The first half was a decidedly flat affair but the Bulls were firmly in the game at half-time as they trailed only 12-4.

Williams was needlessly sin-binned in the seventh minute when he obstructed Dixon as the former London Broncos man attempted to take a 20-metre restart.

Five minutes later, Josh Mantellato finished in clinical fashion in the left corner from Dane Chisholm's pass.

The Bulls frequently coughed up possession but they replied in the 25th minute when Mendeika went over in the left corner after neat handling from Adrian Purtell and Danny Addy.

Mantellato scored again with another trademark finish in the left corner from a penalty tap before Dixon grabbed his first try moments later, haring down the right flank before driving through Mendeika to score.

There was a moment of madness from Lauaki shortly before half-time when he tackled Dixon on halfway and then appeared to gouge him, earning himself a yellow card which could lead to heavier punishment.

Still, at 12-4 the game was there for the Bulls. Sadly, they were taken to the cleaners as Rovers scored two more tries with Lauaki off the field early in the second half.

After Mendieka knocked on from another high kick, Dixon added his second try just three minutes into the second period when he scampered over in the right corner.

In the next set, Chisholm broke in midfield before embarrassing Mendieka further by rounding the former Featherstone man far too easily with a change of pace.

Harry Siejka looked lively off the bench and almost edged over but was held up over the line and then Matt Ryan wasted a good break from Williams.

Ken Sio then added Hull KR's sixth try in the 57th minute after another handling error from Mendeika following Chisholm's kick.

Kris Welham broke from distance in the next set to dummy past Mendieka for his 100th try for the Robins.

When Bradford let Maurice Blair's hoisted kick bounce, Rovers spread the ball wide again to Dixon, who grubbered infield and Matty Marsh showed remarkable skill to palm the ball back for Graeme Horne to touch down.

Omari Caro dropped another high kick to gift Rovers more possession as Dixon completed his hat-trick – before he added his fourth after the hooter and duly slotted the touchline kick himself.

Attendance: 6,605