Hull KR crossed for nine tries to march into the quarter-finals of the Challenge Cup over Huddersfield Giants.
Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis breaks free to score a try against Huddersfield Giants in the Challenge Cup.
Hull KR cruised past an injury-ravaged Huddersfield Giants 52-12 to book their place in the Challenge Cup quarter-finals as their title defence gathered momentum.
After smashing community club Lock Lane a record 104-0 to launch their 2026 cup campaign, Willie Peters’ side were again far too strong – running in nine tries against a Giants side missing 15 first-team players through injury.
Huddersfield boss Luke Robinson was forced to hand out three debuts, with outside-backs Roman Sharma and Alex Chippendale starting, while Monty Lumb was named on the interchange bench for his first senior appearance.
There was a milestone for goal-kicking Rovers forward Rhyse Martin, who marked his 200th career game at the Accu Stadium, having previously featured for Leeds Rhinos, Canterbury Bulldogs, Papua New Guinea and the Combined Nations All Stars. He kicked eight goals from nine attempts in the dominant victory over Huddersfield.
Hull KR struck early and never looked in danger throughout, even when Taane Milne scored to make it 12-6 midway through the first half.
Drafted in for James Batchelor, Tom Whitehead opened the scoring just six minutes in after Huddersfield failed to deal with a towering Mikey Lewis kick. The back-rower reacted quickest to the loose ball to dot down – in front of a travelling Rovers support that comfortably outnumbered the home fans.
Lewis soon went from creator to scorer with a moment of magic.
The maverick half-back tore 70 metres upfield after Hull KR won the ball back from their own goal-line drop-out, dummying Huddersfield full-back Jacob Gagai to double Rovers’ lead.
Huddersfield briefly hit back after 17 minutes through Milne. The centre sparked a break with an offload to Tui Lolohea before backing up his half-back to finish a long-range move and cut the deficit to 12-6.
But Rovers quickly reasserted their dominance.
Peta Hiku crossed for his second try of the year out wide before the centre’s break set up Tom Amone to crash over in front of the 2,000-strong travelling Rovers fans.
Lewis grabbed his second on 32 minutes to cap another slick move, chasing down Martin’s clever grubber after the forward had powered through the middle for a 30-6 lead at the break.
The visitors kept their try-scoring form going against the Giants in the second half, piling on 22 more points.
Interchange hooker Bill Leyland seized his first-team chance with a sharp 15-metre dart from dummy-half to score, before prop Sam Luckley crossed the whitewash for the first time since May 2025 – with Hiku causing havoc against Huddersfield’s left edge.
The Robins eventually struck on the opposite flank too, with Oliver Gildart backing up a break from wing partner Joe Burgess to complete another dominant tie for the cup holders, while Milne intercepted a pass on the hooter for a 52-12 full-time result.
The draw for the Challenge Cup quarter-finals will be held live on Tuesday morning (March 17) on BBC One’s Morning Live programme, presented by Helen Skelton and Gethin Jones.
Hull KR: Jack Broadbent, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Mikey Lewis, Tyrone May, Dean Hadley. Jez Litten, Sauaso Sue, Rhyse Martin, Tom Whitehead, Elliot Minchella.
Bench: Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Tom Amone, Bill Leyland.
Tries: Whitehead (6’), Lewis (14’, 32’), Hiku (22’), Amone (27’), Leyland (48’), Luckley (50’), Gildart (55’), Broadbent (59′).
Goals: Martin 8/9
Huddersfield Giants: Jacob Gagai, Alex Chippendale, Asher O’Donnell, Taane Milne, Roman Sharma, Tui Lolohea, Oliver Russell, Chris Patolo, Kieran Rush, Thomas Burgess, Jacob Algar, Jack Billington, Tristan Powell.
Bench: Monty Lumb, George King, Fenton Rodgers, Mathieu Cozza.
Tries: Milne (18’, 79′)
Goals: Russell 2/2