“I can die happy now.” As the reality of what had just happened began to sink in, a Hull KR supporter of half a century relayed those words to me.
I’ve not found anyone yet who has been able to find the words to do justice to what happened at Wembley on Saturday afternoon.
Most people appear to still be in shock that 40 years of wait is finally over. The closing 15 minutes were an all too familiar feeling for Hull KR supporters. The feeling of inevitability, the dread of ridicule, the anguish of having to stomach another defeat.
And then, it lifted. With one swing of his left boot, Mikey Lewis unlocked the shackles of expectation off a club that has so desperately gone on the pursuit of silverware.
Hull KR Cup final winners special
Hull KR are the 2025 Challenge Cup winners. The Robins put everyone through it but came away from Wembley victorious with a win that will be burned into the memory forever.
To celebrate the triumph, we’ve got a 40-page souvenir special packed full of the best photos from the day, fan galleries from outside Wembley, match analysis, reaction from within the camp and the best photos from the trophy parade.
Pre-order your copy now for just £3.50 and have it delivered to your door. Online postage and packaging costs apply. Available in participating retailers in the Hull area from Friday June 13, 2025.
There’s no sporting fan in the world who wouldn’t wish to experience that moment. If you could bottle that feeling of sheer euphoria, you would be the richest person alive.
You cannot underestimate how much Hull KR needed this. Their rise has been meteoric but without the silverware, there was no validation. Had they lost a third final, especially having gone in as heavy favourites, the mental scars would have cut deep. Really deep. Overcoming that setback would have been challenging for this group. We’ll never know now though.
Instead, you’re now left pondering whether that’s lift off for the club. Their regularity in major finals proves they’re genuine contenders but now they know they can win one. That makes them more dangerous. But that’s a thought for another day.
Sceptics don’t have the silverware stick to poke them with now but that’s irrelevant. This win wasn’t about anyone else, it was about Hull KR doing it for Hull KR, and you can bet that will be demonstrated in the days to come.
In recent years, Hull KR have given their supporters the right to dream. But there’s no need to dream now. The dream is reality, and has been since 2025.