Hull KR reached their first Super League Grand Final after resisting a ferocious Warrington Wolves comeback at a rapturous Craven Park. A James Batchelor try and contentious Joe Burgess finish put the hosts 10-0 up on a momentous night for a side transformed in recent years by head coach Willie Peters.

With each side boasting a Man of Steel nominee in their ranks – in Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis and Warrington’s Matt Dufty - and just two points and one place separating the pair in the table after 27 regular-season games, the semi-final showdown promised much. Batchelor gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 18th minute of a captivating tie, as he stretched out to finish after squirming free of two tacklers.

Warrington improved after the setback and had a Dufty try ruled out for obstruction on the half-hour mark, only to then go further behind in controversial circumstances. Referee Liam Moore ruled that Burgess had managed to ground his effort after crashing over from close range, and despite it being sent to the television match official there was no conclusive video evidence to overrule the on-field call.

Ashton gave Warrington the ideal start to the second half, slamming the ball down for Wolves’ first try in the 46th minute having started the initial attack with a brilliant break and run. And the lively winger had Wolves back within two points of the hosts as he took a Dufty pass on the left before diving over in the corner. Josh Thewlis’ failure to land either conversion left the visitors still chasing the game with 20 minutes left, but Ashton’s 24th and 25th tries of the Super League campaign set up a tense and, at times, chaotic finish.

Hull KR’s defence worked tirelessly to keep the Wolves from snatching victory, though two chances went begging with a Thewlis try ruled out for a forward pass from Rodrick Tai, while a last-minute touchdown from Toby King failed to count as Dufty knocked-on before the winger collected the loose ball to scamper over.

In front of a sold out and electric crowd in Hull, it was a breathless first 10 minutes, the home crowd's spine-tingling rendition of Erasure's 'Respect' setting the scene. As expected, an arm wrestle quickly ensued, the home outfit getting on top. After a penalty in good territory as Wolves' Rodrick Tai took out a chasing Tyrone May, Batchelor showed sheer will and power to drive through and stretch over for the opening try on the 17th minute, giving Hull KR a 4-0 lead.

The grind set in, and the Robins were clearly on top, making good metres and pinning the visitors back, the Wolves' best chance from Dufty on the 31st minute being written off for obstruction. From there, KR continued to build pressure and got their rewards of more points on the 35th minute, albeit controversially, through winger Joe Burgess.

Burgess barrelled over from dummy-half and with no evidence for the video referee to overturn the on-field decision of a try, it was given, Lewis this time adding the extras for a 10-0 lead at half-time. Despite KR dominating the first half, the comeback was clearly on for Warrington and their belief grew as Ashton continued to show his star power, a barrell over from dummy-half on the 46th minute plus a sensational acrobatic effort reducing the deficit to just two points.

The scoreline was 10-8 with 20 minutes remaining and the momentum was gone in Warrington's favour, the visitors with their tails up and chancing their arm. But, Hull KR stood firm and heroically defended their line time after time, defending all the way to the Super League Grand Final, the first in the club's history.

Hull KR’s Journey to the Grand Final

For a side that was relegated to the Championship eight years ago, and finished bottom of the table as recently as the Covid-impacted 2020 campaign, their trip to Manchester for the northern hemisphere’s showpiece rugby league event signifies how enormous the Robins' turnaround has been. Since 1985, Rovers have played second-fiddle to their neighbours across the city. But the times are changing in Hull, and these days it is the Robins who are the superior force by the banks of the Humber. Bottom of Super League just four years ago, they have emerged as one of the league’s best sides: but there remains one black mark against their name.

For 39 years, they have failed to win a major trophy of any kind. They have been close: as recently as last year they lost the Challenge Cup final. But this feels like it could be their moment, after they survived the most absorbing and engrossing playoff semi-final to book a first-ever appearance at Old Trafford next weekend, where Wigan or Leigh await. Rovers’ cynics would have expected them to struggle here, given how they had home advantage and were favourites against a Warrington side who have made great strides under Sam Burgess this year. But they showed no nerves whatsoever in a one-sided first-half, forging a 10-0 lead thanks to tries from James Batchelor and Joe Burgess.

A Second-Half Fightback

But after half-time, the Wire responded. Two tries from Matty Ashton brought them firmly back into contention and set the nerves jangling inside Craven Park. Crucially though, Josh Thewlis missed both conversions, meaning that Rovers kept a slender two-point lead: which they preserved until the very end to hold on and spark wild celebrations. “They had to dig deep and I’m really proud but there’s one to go,” their coach, Willie Peters, said. “We’ll enjoy this and then we’ll reset and go one better next week.”

This is a club who have endured great hardship in recent decades and had it not been for the continued investment of their owner, Neil Hudgell, they may not have been here to enjoy this success. Peters will bring Hudgell in to speak to the players in the build-up to Old Trafford to remind them of that. His side were superb in the first half, with Batchelor breaking the deadlock before Burgess crossed with an element of controversy. He appeared to be held up over the line but crucially the decision was sent to the video referee with an on-field decision of try. It meant there was no scope to overturn the call and perhaps understandably, Burgess was frustrated post-match. “He had ten looks at it,” he said. “If you take that long to look at it, how do you send it up as a try?”

His side battled valiantly after half-time, with two wonderful individual finishes from Ashton bringing the Wolves back into it: but Thewlis’ two missed goals kept them behind. The final quarter was littered with tension and drama. Rovers fumbled inside their own half on multiple occasions and you wondered if history was about to repeat itself all over again. But as Peters said, this group are made of sterner stuff.

A Moment to Remember

The walls of Craven Park are full of pictures of years gone by, with greats including Sullivan and Millward everywhere you look. Next weekend, it is the class of 2024’s chance to etch their names into history. Anyone who has taken the journey to Hull KR over the years will have noticed two very prominent and deliberate street names as you make your way along the M62, to the A63 and through the centre of the city.

First, there is Clive Sullivan Way: named after the legendary former Hull FC and Hull KR player who was the first black captain for Great Britain in any sport. Then when you pass through the centre of Hull, you travel along Roger Millward Way: a man synonymous with the fabric of Hull KR; their greatest player and a man so important to this club, they retired his famous No 6 shirt. It would perhaps be a stretch to suggest victory for the Robins in the Super League Grand final next week would guarantee one of this squad a similar legacy but given how starved the club have been of success for nearly 40 years, there is every possibility a match-winning hero next weekend would be spoken of with similar fondness in the years that follow.