With Rovers looking to correct last year’s Grand Final loss, we look at the areas they must do better next year.
On Saturday, Hull KR will return to the Old Trafford for the Super League Grand Final.
They get another crack at Wigan Warriors, the side that defeated them last season and denied them silverware on all fronts in 2024.
This time, the roles are reversed in that regards. The Robins are looking to complete the treble, and ensure Wigan end the year with no silverware as a result.
Last year’s final was decided by fine margins. This one will most likely be the same. But the Robins have specific areas where they can look to improve that could well be the difference.
Here, we take a look at them.
Harry Smith’s kicking game
The early stages of last year’s final were a battle for field position and territory. It ws a burising battle, error-free and relentless.
But the Robins won that battle in the opening quarter. Wigan’s players appeared to be fatiguing as Hull KR started to make tackle busts and then ramped up defensively.
The key player for Wigan in that period was one of their smallest, Harry Smith. The halfback kicked them out of trouble time and time again, either getting great height on his kicks that slowed Rovers down, or finding the floor or touch.
That was massive for the Warriors, who didn’t use an interchange until the secod-half. The fact they were 7-0 at half-time; Smith kicked a late drop goal, meant they were the big favourites from that point.
Rovers would be very well positioned if they can find a way to shut down Smith at the weekend.
The set before French’s magic
Twenty minutes into the game, Hull KR forced a drop out following a prolonged spell of making smamm in-roads through the middle.
Wigan did appear to be tired at that point – they hadn’t made any subs, and it felt like a big opportunity for Rovers to open the scoring.
But Rovers produced a poor set. Peta Hiku was tackled on the last near the corner. Mikey Lewis threw his arms in the air, cutting a frustrated figure.
It didn’t feel like an opportunity lost but an opportunity they never really went after. They didn’t need to score then to win the game, but after working so hard to create the opening, they never went after it. They didn’t even chase another repeat set.
When you play a team like Wigan who have so many game-breakers in their team, that can change in an instant. A minute later, that proved to be the case.
Bevan French
He is one of Super League’s very best, arguably the best ever. He proved it last year.
French was unplayable at Old Trafford, he didn’t see much of the ball but his involvements were of the highest quality every time he got the ball. The try was the cherry on top.
He stepped between Mikey Lewis and Matt Parcell, rounded Niall Evalds and scored by the sticks.
Hull KR’s hard work in the opening quarter had been completely outdone. It proved to be a match-winning moment.
Missed chances
Rovers were still creating openings after falling behind and should have posted points. Before half-time, Rovers were denied when it appeared they had an opening on the left, but Mikey Lewis was held up by French and Field.
In the second half, chaos from a loose kick saw Rovers create a numerical advantage on the right, but Niall Evalds couldn’t nail the last play. Shortly after, the Robins again appeared to have the beating of Wigan but couldn’t capitalise as a play ended with Ryan Hall going to touch.
Even in the play before Lewis kicked two points, it looked like Jack Broadbent would score but he stayed high, rather than going low and using the greasy surface, and was held up.
Wigan’s defence played a part in that. However, Rovers know when those opportunities come up this year, they have to take them.
After the goal kick
The decision to go for two points when seven behind was naturally polarising. Both decisions would have had merits but either way, Rovers didn’t handle the game well after that.
They completed the next set but then conceded a dropout after a French break – Joe Burgess could have probably let it go dead, then Lewis conceded a penalty for a tip tackle on Liam Farrell and they were two scores behind again.
They then made errors in four of their next six sets. They didn’t give themselves a chance once Adam Keighran re-established the two-score lead. Was it panic, fatigue, pressure, conditions? Probably a bit of everything, in truth.
Hindsight is wonderful. But they only needed one after going for the points on offer. They just didn’t play well enough after that to give themselves an opportunity to try and do that.
Rovers will need to play better in the final quarter this year.