Hull KR reached the Grand Final with a 20-12 win over St Helens
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters believes his side head to Old Trafford having put together their best 40 minutes for some time.
The KR coach was delighted with the first half from his Rovers side who built a strong position against St Helens, which ultimately got them over the line in a 20-12 victory to book their place in the Grand Final next Saturday against Wigan Warriors.
Saints showed some fight after the break to get back into the game, but while crediting the visitors, Peters also believes his side were guilty of dropping their own performance levels and he’s called for an improvement from his players as they head towards potential greatness.
Rovers booked their place in a second successive Grand Final thanks to a somewhat nervy victory. But while the game was only settled after a second of two tries for Oliver Gildart with less than 10 minutes to go, in truth it never felt like a game Rovers were going to lose.
St Helens may have staged a dramatic comeback at Leeds a week ago to reach this semi-final, but the Robins ensured they had no chance to do that again and the final whistle was greeted with a sense of expectation of a victory as Peters’ side remain on course for the treble.
With two trophies already to their name, KR have an opportunity to secure what would undoubtedly be the greatest season in the club’s history. A week away from that huge game, Rovers impressing as they did against the Saints has brought the head coach and no doubt the supporters even more reason to cheer on another huge night for the club.
“I was happy with the first half but the second half we had some moments in there that I would love to have again,” said Peters.
“We over played a little and went away from what worked and put ourselves under pressure. But we found a way to win. The first 40 was as good as we’ve played for a few weeks and it was more back to being us, second half we know we need some improvement for sure.
“We knew Saints would keep coming, they were outstanding. They were never beaten, they threw more shape at us and we knew they’d keep coming.”
The big talking point before the game was the absence of Michael McIllorum, who had been expected to take his place back in the side after being out with an ankle injury.
Having trained with the side this week, McIllorum was given until the morning of the game but ultimately Peters made the call the player was not ready, as the race now starts to see if he can be fit for the Grand Final.
Peters added; “He was close, but I could tell he wasn’t right. I want him to go out the right way playing in a Grand Final, but he wasn’t right so we will see how he goes.”