Hull KR continued their impressive resurgence under Willie Peters with a dominant 36-12 victory over Catalans Dragons, securing their place in the Challenge Cup final and moving one step closer to ending a 40-year wait for a major trophy.
For a club that has spent much of the modern era in the shadows of more successful rivals, the transformation of Hull KR into genuine contenders has been striking. Once again, they showed why they are now regular participants in high-stakes games and, more importantly, why they’re increasingly adept at handling the pressure that comes with them.
It wasn’t always straightforward. As half-time approached, Rovers found themselves trailing 12-10, with Catalans having fought back strongly after conceding two early tries to James Batchelor. The French side had responded with scores from Reimis Smith and Luke Keary, giving them a narrow but deserved lead and raising the possibility of an upset.
However, one of the defining characteristics of this Hull KR side is their resilience and ability to respond when it matters. That quality was on full display as Mikey Lewis crossed for a crucial try just before the break, swinging the momentum back in Rovers’ favour and restoring their lead at 16-12.
From that point on, it was one-way traffic. The second half belonged entirely to Hull KR, who ran in 20 unanswered points as they took full control of the contest. The Dragons, visibly worn down, had no answer to the Robins’ relentless pace and intensity.
Jack Broadbent’s breakaway try extended the lead to 12 points and effectively broke Catalans’ resolve. His second try followed shortly after, and when Joe Burgess raced through a fatigued defence to score in the closing moments, the game was well and truly settled.
Hull KR’s ability to perform on the big stage has grown in recent years, and this victory felt like another milestone in their development. They have now reached three of the last five major finals across league and cup competitions, and this time, they may well enter Wembley as favourites regardless of their opponent.
The hunger within the squad was evident not only in their performance but also in their belief. There is a growing sense that this team is on the brink of something special. The players and coaching staff are beginning to talk openly about creating a legacy, and the fans nearly 10,000 of whom made the trip to York can sense that something different is in the air.
Catalans, for their part, will have reason to feel aggrieved. Their coach expressed frustration at the lack of in-play penalties or set restarts awarded to his side, a rarity in the modern game. While acknowledging that Hull KR were the superior team, the absence of any calls in their favour over 80 minutes raised eyebrows.
Yet even with that frustration, there could be no denying the Robins’ superiority on the day. From the moment they regained the lead just before half-time, they imposed themselves on the game and never looked back. It was a statement performance calm under pressure, clinical in attack, and unrelenting in defence.
Now, the biggest challenge lies ahead. For four decades, Hull KR supporters have waited for a major trophy to return to their club. They’ve come close in recent years, but this time feels different. With their place at Wembley secured, the dream of finally lifting silverware is alive and within reach.
