Hull | All the best reaction as The Robins clinch historic Treble

Hull KR 24 - 6 Wigan Warriors

Hull KR are Super League Grand Final winners for the first time.

Author | Jay Dean

Stadium | Old Trafford

Brad O’Neill’s first-half yellow card for a tip tackle on Tyrone May swung the momentum firmly in the Robins’ favour, with Mikey Lewis and Joe Burgess crossing while the Cherry and Whites were reduced to 12 men. Despite Harry Smith’s reply for Wigan, Hull KR’s control never faltered as Jez Litten darted through for a third try before Burgess struck again late on to confirm a famous win.

Wigan had threatened early when Bevan French thought he had scored from Liam Marshall’s kick, only for replays to show he lost the ball in grounding. Moments later, tempers flared after Jared Waerea-Hargreaves’ fierce challenge on French, and O’Neill’s sin-binning for a dangerous tackle followed soon after. Hull KR took full advantage as Lewis deceived the Wigan defence with a fine dummy to score in front of their jubilant supporters, before Burgess extended the lead with a trademark finish in the corner.

The champions of 2024 briefly rallied through Adam Keighran’s long-range penalty and Smith’s try, but missed chances and poor discipline proved costly. Rhyse Martin’s goal steadied Hull KR before Litten’s solo effort and Burgess’ late interception sealed a landmark victory. It was a triumph built on composure, precision and belief, as the Robins brought four decades of waiting to an emphatic end.

How Willie Peters turned Hull KR into a trophy winning machine 

When he took charge of Hull KR in the winter of 2022, the club’s trophy cabinet offered little sign of recent success. The last major addition had been the one-off Challenge Plate from a rare Wembley appearance in 1997, alongside a scattering of second-tier honours.

It had been close to 40 years since the Robins last ruled the rugby league landscape, crowned champions in 1984-85. In the years that followed, they teetered on the brink of collapse, endured administration, drifted in and out of the top flight and finished bottom of the table as recently as 2020.

Tony Smith, Peters’ predecessor, had begun the process of steadying the ship, steering Rovers to a play-off campaign in 2021 and a Challenge Cup semi-final the following year. Yet his departure midway through the 2022 season coincided with the club slipping out of the top six.

What followed would reshape Hull KR’s fortunes. Under Peters’ guidance, the Robins ended their decades-long wait for silverware with a dream treble. His impact has been transformative in East Hull, delivering the Challenge Cup in June and following it up with the League Leaders’ Shield.