Hull KR complete the greatest season in their history to win the treble.
Legends. Icons. Immortals.
Treble winners.
Let that sink in for just one moment. Take a pause to appreciate that you have just witnessed the greatest season in Hull KR’s history. Take a breath and say it again. Hull Kingston Rovers – Super League champions.
The Robins became the first new team to win a Grand Final in 21 years, defeating defending champions Wigan Warriors 24-6 to destroy their hopes of a three-peat.
Since the beginning of Super League in 1996 only four teams have managed to win a Grand Final, with Leeds Rhinos joining Wigan, St Helens and Bradford Bulls when they won their first in 2004.
But the Robins finally brought an end to the monoply with a stunning win at Old Trafford as their local hero Mikey Lewis came to the fore.
In winning, Rovers secured the treble, only the fifth team in history to do so in the Super League era, putting themselves among some of the all-time great sides.
It is even more remarkable that when they won the Challenge Cup in June, it was their first major trophy in 40 years. Now, they have three in a season.
Yet they were guilty of making a string of handling errors in the opening ten minutes, with James Batchelor, Tom Davies and Arthur Mourgue all fumbling under pressure.
They were given a huge let off inside six minutes wehn Bevan French wonderfully tipped inside to Liam Farrell, but the stalwart fumbled the ball with the line at his mercy.
Wigan wasted another glorious chance on 13 minutes. Liam Marshall produced an outstanding kick for the onrushing French, but, almost to everyone’s disbelief, he proved he was human after all as he fumbled in the process of scoring. Rovers, despite putting themselves under immense pressure, remained level.
The game would start to swing in their favour on 18 minutes. Wigan hooker Brad O’Neill was sin-binned for a tip tackle on Tyrone May and from there, Magic Mikey had his say.
Collecting the ball 20 metres out he attracted the attention of Farrell, brushed off his attempted tackle and dashed through the hole provided, diving over despite the best efforts of French. There will have been some extra satisfaction for Lewis, having seen French gallop away from him for the try in last year’s Grand Final. Arthur Mourgue converted for a 6-0 lead.
Now, it was Wigan making errors. Prop Luke Thompson lost count of the tackles and ran the ball in on the last, handing Rovers ball in Wigan’s half. While the Warriors defended it, Marshall dropped the ball on play one.
From that, Rovers scored again. Lewis was at the heart of it once more, delaying his pass superbly to give Oliver Gildart space, and the former Wigan centre found ex-Wigan winger Joe Burgess, who dived home for a 10-0 lead. In the space of ten minutes, Rovers had seized control.
The Warriors remained on the ropes thereafter, struggling to find their stride while everything that was thrown at the Robins was repelled. That said, they did get on the board before the break. Rovers were penalised for accidental offside from Jai Field’s chip, and Adam Keighran smashed a penalty goal over from 45 yards to cut the arrears to 10-2 at half-time.
Wigan always have their moments, though and so often, if it isn’t French, it is Jai Field, and that obligatory piece of brilliance came from the fullback as he collected the ball, burned Peta Hiku for pace on the outside, sold Davies with a dummy and found Harry Smith to score a pivotal try.
Keighran couldn’t convert however, and within minutes, Rovers had posted points themselves as Brad O’Neill’s pass was spilled by Sam Walters, and when Wigan stripped the ball, Rhyse Martin knocked over two points for a 12-6 lead.
And the gamebreaker came on the hour. A brilliant shortside play saw Jez Litten find Batchelor, the back-rower threw a cute inside ball to Hiku, and he found Litten to the sheer delight of the travelling Rovers support.
Rovers saw the game out with ease. Wigan had no answers, no solutions. They threw the ball left and right, but the Robins had their number. Every loose ball dived on or Wigan error was celebrated more than a try.
The game was wrapped up in the final two minutes as Burgess got a second, plucking a pass out of the sky to race home and put gloss on the scoreline.
And when the hooter sounded, there were tears. There were expressions of sheer disbelief. There were looks to the sky from many who have loved ones who were only ever allowed to dream of these days.
But those here and now get to live it. And boy, will they.
Hull KR: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Micky McIlorum, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, James Batchelor, Dean Hadley, Elliot Minchella. Subs: Jez Litten, Jai Whitbread, Sam Luckley, Rhyse Martin.
Tries: Lewis (20), Burgess (27. 79), Litten (60)
Goals: Mourgue 1/1, Martin 3/4
Wigan Warriors: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Adam Keighran, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Liam Byrne, Brad O’Neill, Luke Thompson, Sam Walters, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis. Subs: Ethan Havard, Junior Nsemba, Patrick Mago, Kruise Leeming.
Tries: Smith (49)
Goals: Keighran 1/2