Cockermouth Rugby League star Shaun Lunt says million pound game will be one of the biggest of his career

Hull KR ace Lunt, 29, who has played once for England and won the 2012 Super League Grand Final with Leeds Rhinos, has plenty of big game experience.

But tomorrow’s home match against Salford Red Devils, with both teams vying to keep hold of their Super League status for 2017, is every bit as important for the former Castleford and Workington Town player.

“It’s going to be an interesting one tomorrow,” Lunt said.

“Obviously, I have been lucky enough to represent my country and play in the Grand Final, as well.

“I have been around a number of years and so have some of the other lads. Hopefully, we can get the win.”

He added: “On form, they (Salford) should not be in the middle eight.

“It just shows they should not be in the middle eight in the first place, really.

“When they had the points deducted, that shook them up, really, I think.”

An independent Rugby Football League tribunal ruled on charges brought in April against the Red Devils and, despite an appeal against a six-point deduction imposed for breaching salary cap regulations, Salford were not successful.

That contributed to Salford ending the Super League season in 10th place on 14 points from 23 games - but remained ahead of Hull KR on points difference.

Meanwhile, Hull KR lost out in agonising fashion last Saturday to Huddersfield Giants in a 23-22 defeat.

Lunt admitted he didn’t take last weekend’s defeat well.

He said: “After the game on Saturday at Huddersfield, I got a day or two worth of sulking.

"But I’m ready for next week now - It will be one of the biggest games I have been involved in.”

And Lunt feels preparations for tomorrow’s showdown have been going well.

“We put everything into the game at Huddersfield,” he said. “The intensity of that game was high.

“Basically, I was sore for a couple of days afterwards.

“But we have had three training sessions now this week after a day off on Wednesday.”

Though Lunt is desperate to get the better of Salford Red Devils tomorrow afternoon, he will not be celebrating too much if he does.

“Obviously, if we win, it is going to be good for us,” he added.

“But it’s not something we are going to be celebrating, it’s more the relief than anything.

“It is not a nice game to be involved in. The livelihoods of the players are at stake.

“We are not in a sport where we can just pay our mortgages off. We are normal people.”

Despite a difficult season with Hull KR, Lunt enjoys playing for the club.

“What we have got at Hull KR is really good,” he said.

“I know some people will say ‘how can it be something good when we are in a million pound game’ but I enjoy it.

“I do not want to be thinking about moving clubs or anything like that.

“That is the last thing on my mind.”

With the game due to shown live on Sky Sports Two, Lunt doesn’t expect his friends to turn up for the game and will instead watch on TV.

He said: “It’s on Sky, so all my mates are going to watch it on TV but my brother and one of my cousins are going to travel, which is nice.”

Lunt started his Rugby League career with Castleford Tigers.

The one-time England international then moved to Workington Town in 2006, where he would spend the next two years of his career.

He then spent six years at Huddersfield Giants, scoring just under 300 points for the club in his time there.

A Super League Grand Final win followed in 2012, while on loan with Leeds Rhinos as they beat Warrington Wolves 26-18.

Last season, another loan spell at Hull KR followed, which became a permanent transfer in 2016.

During that loan spell, Lunt made his third appearance at Wembley Stadium, facing Leeds Rhinos and falling to a 50-0 defeat in front of a crowd of over 80,000.

Lunt’s team-mates at Hull KR include centre Liam Salter, prop Adam Walker, back row Kevin Larroyer, former Junior Kangaroo and New South Wales under-19s representative Dane Tilse and former Australian international Terry Campese.

They are coached by James Webster, whose only other coaching role came for Wakefield Trinity Wildcats.

The million pound game will kick-off at 3pm tomorrow afternoon at the Lightstream Stadium.