Jez Litten produced another man of the match performance in a big Hull KR game.
Jez Litten celebrates after Hull KR’s World Club Challenge win over Brisbane Broncos.
Jez Litten’s heroic display against Brisbane Broncos earned the livewire Hull KR hooker widespread praise – from team-mates, opposition captain Adam Reynolds and even rival coach Paul Rowley.
The England international starred in Rovers’ 30-24 World Club Challenge victory, producing two deceptive assists – one from hand and one from boot – in a blistering first half as the Robins surged into a commanding lead.
Operating from dummy-half, Litten caused Brisbane constant problems before being forced into the halves following Arthur Mourgue’s first-half injury, which prompted a reshuffle from head coach Willie Peters.
He went on to produce a series of desperate tackles and crucial try-savers, playing a monumental role in Hull KR’s historic triumph as they became just the fourth Super League club to hold all four major trophies simultaneously.
Working on the BBC’s coverage, St Helens head coach Rowley was among those to hail the 27-year-old after a World Club Challenge contest that will go down in the history books as one of the greatest.
“Jez Litten is helping Mikey Lewis because he’s taken a lot of that burden off his shoulders,” Rowley said.
“He’s probably become the most important player in the Hull KR team at the minute.
“Mikey is going about his business, developing and progressing in the organic manner he would want. They’re becoming the full package – from one big game to the next and one trophy to the next. They are the real deal, and that habit of winning is a good one as well.”
Opposition skipper Reynolds admitted pre-match that he was fully aware of the threat Litten posed, and after the thrilling blockbuster the veteran half-back shared the belief that the Hull KR star has what it takes to succeed in the NRL should he ever choose to make the move.
“There are a number of players in that [Hull KR] team who could easily make the transition to the NRL, and he was a big part of their success throughout last year and again tonight,” Reynolds said.
Team-mate and influential back-rower James Batchelor was also effusive in his praise.
“He’s something else,” Batchelor added. “He can do it all. People overlook him defensively. He’s a tough fella, and he can whack you.”
Litten will hope to carry that form into next week’s trip to the United States, where the Robins are set to face Leeds Rhinos in Las Vegas.