Hull KR made it eight consecutive derby wins over Hull FC with a dramatic 26-12 victory at Super League’s Magic Weekend.
Late tries from Jai Whitbread and Tyrone May saw the Robins claim the two competition points, with the scores locked at 12-12 until the 66th minute.
Here are some of the game’s biggest talking points.
Willie Peters’ bold selection call
The Hull KR boss named just one recognised prop on his interchange bench in Jordan Dezaria, while Sauaso Sue returned from a shoulder injury.
Jez Litten also came back from an ankle issue to start at hooker, pushing Karl Lawton onto the interchange bench. Lawton was named alongside Noah Booth and Bill Leyland, while young forward Cobie Wainhouse was the 18th man. Booth was the only interchange player not used in Liverpool, while Leyland saw around seven minutes of game time on the field.
In a bid to inspire his side back to winning ways, Peters also handed Ryan Hampshire his second appearance for the club at full-back, with Jack Broadbent shifting to the wing for his 150th career appearance.
The selection paid off in the end after a close encounter. Jai Whitbread was asked to play big minutes and made a huge impact, crashing over for the decisive try before Tyrone May wrapped up the victory with a late score.
Mikey Lewis v Jed Cartwright
There was an intriguing battle between Mikey Lewis and Jed Cartwright throughout the derby, with the pair clashing on several occasions.
The first flashpoint came after Cartwright shoved Lewis, prompting a big reaction from the Hull KR half-back, who gestured to the crowd at the Hill Dickinson Stadium. Cartwright was later penalised for holding back Lewis after putting a kick through himself.
The contest never boiled over, but it provided an entertaining subplot whenever the two came together.
Jake Arthur’s progression
The Hull FC half-back was among his side’s best performers, finishing with a try and an assist despite the defeat.
Arthur powered over for Hull’s opening try, carrying Litten and Lewis across the line to cut the deficit after Rovers had gained a 10-0 lead.
He then produced a superb cut-out pass for Tom Briscoe in the second half, skipping past two team-mates to send the veteran winger over in the corner.
Arthur continues to grow in his debut Super League season and showed glimpses of his potential once again. His display was recognised as he was voted the official player of the match by supporters.
Mikey Lewis’ underrated moment
Amid all the pantomime villain antics, Lewis is truly a fierce competitor.
He scored the derby’s opening try after Jack Broadbent tapped the half-back’s kick back into his path, allowing him to gather and cross.
But one of the biggest moments of the game – and one that head coach Willie Peters would have particularly appreciated – came in the second half when Lewis raced back to haul down a clear-through Zak Hardaker. The veteran looked destined to score before Lewis tracked him down, with team-mates arriving to complete the defensive effort.
It proved to be a pivotal moment in the contest.
Eight derby wins in a row for KR
The Robins have now won the last eight meetings between the sides, with the run stretching back to February 2024.
This was far from straightforward. Hull FC battled back to level the scores at 12-12 before a late error from Lewis Martin allowed Hull KR to regain the lead through Whitbread.
Litten then produced a delicate grubber to set up May after Hull FC’s defensive line rushed up, sealing another derby triumph.
Hull FC’s last derby victory came in July 2023, when they claimed a 16-6 win in Round 18 of the Super League season.
The last eight results: Hull KR 26, Hull FC 12 (SLR17, 4/7/26), Hull KR 24, Hull FC 6 (SLR7, 3/4/26), Hull KR 18, Hull FC 4 (SLR25, 7/9/25), Hull FC 14, Hull KR 28 (SLR8, 18/4/25), Hull FC 16, Hull KR 32 (CCQF, 5/4/25), Hull FC 10, Hull KR 24 (SLR17, 13/7/24), Hull KR 34, Hull FC 10 (SLR6, 29/3/24), Hull FC 0, Hull KR 22 (SLR1, 15/2/24).