Rovers were crowned world champions but may have lost two players for a spell in the process
Hull KR’s Dean Hadley celebrates victory over Brisbane.
Willie Peters broke with his usual protocol by telling his Hull KR players at half-time in their World Club Challenge that he was proud of them. Peters was blown away by his Rovers side as they dominated the first half at the MKM Stadium, suffocating the NRL’s best attack while scoring three tries themselves to lead 18-4.
That lead became 30-4 as the Super League Grand final winners made their NRL counterparts look very ordinary, before the Aussie comeback kings did what they do best. Thankfully for Rovers they held on to claim the title of world champions, becoming the first KR side to ever have the honour.
Proud at half-time, Peters was beyond proud at the conclusion of the game as his side clinched the title and secured a fourth trophy in less than a year for the all-conquering Robins.
“I actually said to the players at half-time that I was proud of them, which I maybe should have waited for. We were challenged second half and even if we hadn’t won I’d be so proud. We had to really fight.
“The players went through a hard time at the end of the game and they had to work their backsides off.
“This means a lot. No Hull KR team has ever been involved in a game like this before and we had this opportunity and we really wanted to win it. I would have been proud of the players anyway, but we didn’t deserve to lose that.”
While Peters made his feelings clear to his players at half-time, he says he no way thought the game was won, having anticipated the Broncos’ comeback.
He added: “I knew they would come back at us at some stage, they won an NRL Grand Final by coming back against the best opposition over there.
“The first 60 minutes were unbelievable. To be able to suffocate the Broncos like that is not easy to do. At 18-0 I knew it wouldn’t be enough, but at 30-4 I felt a lot more comfortable.”
The victory has come at a cost, however. Rovers are now expected to travel to Las Vegas on Sunday without full-back Arthur Mourgue or forward Dean Hadley.
“It doesn’t look good,” said Peters of Mourgue’s injury. “It’s possibly a pec injury which means some time on the sidelines. Dean Hadley has an eye injury which is possibly a fracture.
“He’s unbelievable to stay on the field. I hate when players get injured and I feel for them because they are looking at some decent time on the sidelines.”