The wait is finally over. No more jibes. No more jokes. Hull KR have won a major trophy for the first time in 40 years. Even then, though, they made their long-suffering side wait.
After being kicked to pieces by Warrington’s brilliant Marc Sneyd, error-ridden Rovers looked dead and buried at rain-lashed Wembley. But the Super League leaders, who produced their worst performance of the season, only needed one chance. And they took it.
Having looked like being kept tryless in a fascinating Challenge Cup final, Tom Davies stuck out a hand in the 77th minute to touch down Tyrone May’s probing kick. Wolves’ young winger Arron Lindop appeared to have grounded it beforehand with his stomach but the video referee viewed the ball remained live – and ex-Catalans winger Davies pounced.
It still needed Mikey Lewis to nail the touchline conversion. But the Man of Steel, who slotted a first half penalty, lived up to that title by coolly slotting it over and sending more than 20,000 Robins fans into delirium. After losing the 2023 Cup final and last year’s Grand Final, Rovers boss Willie Peters contemplated making history and admitted: “It’s a weird feeling.
“I’ve not felt it before. I’m so, so proud. It wasn’t the best performance but it was a grit performance and you need that in a Cup final
“You need to experience discomfort and we did. Sneyd was exceptional today with his kicking but we found a way. We got away with it in the end.
“I knew Mikey would kick it at the end. I spoke to him a few weeks back because I knew he’d be our kicker today and he’d need to practice. But he said he’s better when he just goes out and kicks. I did think ‘do I say ‘go practice or let him go?’
“But probably the moment I was most calm [today] was when he had the ball in his hand at the end because it was a massive moment. And his moment. He owned it.”
Rovers had only ever won the Challenge Cup once before in 1980 with legends like Roger Millward, Clive Sullivan and Phil Lowe to the fore.
But now England star Lewis, captain Elliot Minchella and Michael McIlorum – the veteran hooker who returned early from a biceps injury – will join them.