The Robins are one win away from greatness.
In these parts, Hull KR’s class of 2025 are already immortals. Their historic win at Wembley means their place in Craven Park’s history is already secure.
But Rovers are now one win away from more than that. They are on the brink of the promised land after a 16-6 victory over St Helens.
Hull KR get another crack at Wigan Warriors in a Grand Final next week, 12 months on from defeat to the same opposition last year.
But this time, they don’t go simply looking to win a trophy. They go looking to put themselves alongside some of Super League’s greatest ever teams.
Only four teams have done the treble in Super League history. Hull KR are one win away from joining them. Bradford Bulls 2003, St Helens 2006, Leeds Rhinos 2015, Wigan Warriors 2024.
Hull KR 2025? We’ll find out next week.
They deservedly progressed too. The first-half was complete and utter domination as the Robins battered Saints in all departments. In credit to the visitors, they refused to tap out and ensured they only went in 12-0 behind.
That gave them a chance and when they scored shortly after the break through Deon Cross, it ensured nerves were jangling.
There were two major talking points on the team news front. Micky McIlorum didn’t win his race against time for Rovers while for Saints, Mark Percival was a notable absentee after failing to overcome an injury suffered against Leeds Rhinos last week.
From the get-go, Rovers were dominant. Saints, without both Kyle Feldt and Percival, always appeared likely to struggle making metres without their two strongest backs and that proved to be the case.
One of the hallmarks of this Robins outfit is their ability to suffocate the life out of times, and how they did that to Saints, who didn’t have a play the ball in Rovers’ half by the time they hit the lead.
Saints were dealt a blow when Jon Bennison went off for a HIA, forcing another reshuffle of the backs. Then they needed another when Jack Welsby was sin-binned for a professional foul on Jez Litten when he kicked ahead.
Rovers took the two from that penalty, Arthur Mourgue slotting over from out wide, and the Robins scored with Welsby still off the pitch. A one-two between Burgess and Mikey Lewis saw them score, the halfback finding the winger with a cut-out pass before passing in-field for the finish. Mourgue’s latest conversion made it 8-0.
Welsby’s return restored parity in personnel, but Rovers’ dominance was clear to see. Saints continued to struggle getting out of their own half and another Rovers score appeared inevitable. Alas, it proved to be the case.
Gildart was given space by a retreating Saints defence close to the line and while they did bring him down, he was able to offload to Burgess, who dived over Harry Robertson to score. Mourgue missed from the tee for the first time, leaving the score at 12-0.
It was an utterly one-sided first-half, but the scoreboard didn’t suggest so. When Saints scored after the break, you felt Rovers may live to regret not turning that dominance into points.
It was a soft try, with Saints getting the ball to the wingman, Deon Cross, who fooled Arthur Mourgue with a dummy to run down the flank and score untouched. Jonny Lomax’s conversion, via the post, took them to within six.
Rovers got back to the task at hand and appeared to be in position to restore their two-score lead when Rhyse Martin was given a chance to kick a penalty when the visitors were penalised for a high tackle. However, Martin pulled wide what appeared to be a relatively simple conversion for a man of his prowess.
But they eased the nerves just after the hour. Saints had the ball in Rovers’ half after Peta Hiku’s knock on and subsequent dissent. The Robins went straight up field, a last play kick went to ground and Gildart picked up to dive home from close range.
And all doubt was removed eight minutes later when Gildart got his second, stepping inside two men and showing strength to crash over and put the game beyond doubt.
Harry Robertson scored late on to give Saints a consolation. But it was immaterial in the grand scheme of things.
Hull KR : Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Jez Litten, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, James Batchelor, Dean Hadley, Elliot Minchella. Subs: Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Rhyse Martin, Jack Broadbent.
Tries: Lewis (18), Burgess (24), Gildart (63, 71)
Goals: Mourgue 2/3, Martin 0/3
St Helens: Tristan Sailor, Jon Bennison, Harry Robertson, Matt Whitley, Deon Cross, Jack Welsby, Jonny Lomax, Alex Walmsley, Daryl Clark, Matty Lees, Curtis Sironen, Shane Wright, Morgan Knowles. Subs: Moses Mbye, George Delaney, Noah Stephens, James Bell.
Tries: Cross (44), Robertson (75)
Goals: Lomax 2/2