The Robins will be looking to bounce back to winning ways once more this weekend against Hull FC
Sky Sports’ Jon Wilkin as voiced his concerns about what he’s seen from Hull KR
Friday night served to underline just how much catching up Hull KR have to do if they are to retain their Super League title this season.
The Robins were humbled by Leeds Rhinos, who cemented their place at the top of the tree for another week by handing KR a second heavy defeat this season. Rovers now sit sixth in the Super League table as a result and their spot in the play-offs is far from certain with Leigh Leopards breathing down their neck.
Bouncing back is vital this weekend then against Hull FC at Magic Weekend and a derby win over the old enemy could have a galvanising effect on Willie Peters’ side with extremely testing games to come on the immediate horizon.
Rovers play Wakefield Trinity, Warrington Wolves and Hull again after Magic Weekend and they simply cannot afford to drop more points in the top six, not while Leigh, who were uncharacteristically poor at Craven Park a fortnight ago, are in strong form too.
Rovers sitting sixth in the league at this stage of the season is something that very few will have seen coming.
But, as they strive to build consistency over the remaining two and a half months of the season, pundit Jon Wilkin has moved to pinpoint the difference between the class of ’25 and this year’s version of the Robins.
“I think there’s always mitigation and I don’t think Hull KR have been quite at the standard of 2025, without doubt that’s the case,” the Sky Sports man said. “I think there’s loads of reasons: JWH and Micky McIlorum leaving and the calmness and composure they provided.
“There was a time where it didn’t matter how long a team attacked against them, you just never got the sense they would concede and I don’t know where that’s gone. They’ve conceded too many points.
“The two blowouts against Leeds, credit Leeds, and the Challenge Cup final, that’s what has been different this year, that teams feel like they have an opportunity against them now, whereas in 2025 it was just so clean and tidy, you couldn’t break them down.”
He continued: “Hunger is a big thing and that can change things. When there’s an appetite to win to go back to back and to get even hungrier in that second year is the key.
“I think they tried really hard [vs Leeds Rhinos] but you don’t win just by trying hard. You talk about effort areas and we get so carried away with it but that’s the base of the pyramid, it’s just the top of that pyramid is missing for Hull KR. They try really hard but they maybe don’t have the quality of last year.”