Hull KR 10-8 Warrington Wolves: Robins make history and book spot in first ever Grand Final with close victory
Hull KR earned their place in the Betfred Super League Grand Final for the first time after a tense 10-8 win against Warrington Wolves at Sewell Group Craven Park Stadium.
The home team took control in the first half by winning the physical contest, scoring through James Batchelor's try, which wasn't converted, and a quick run by Joe Burgess from the dummy-half position. Mikey Lewis added a conversion, putting them ahead 10-0 at halftime.
Warrington's biggest opportunity in the first half came from Matt Dufty, who believed he had scored in the corner. However, the play was ruled out due to obstruction. Meanwhile, Sam Burgess's team struggled to gain a foothold on the field during the first 40 minutes.
Even though neither team managed to score in the first half, the Wolves came out strong in the second half. Matty Ashton scored twice, bringing the score to 10-8 and igniting hopes for a comeback. However, Thewlis failed to convert either attempt, which allowed KR to maintain their narrow 10-8 advantage.
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Despite being under significant pressure from a determined Wolves team, some outstanding defending allowed KR to maintain their lead. With just 10 seconds left on the clock, the excitement in the stadium reached a fever pitch as the Robins secured a place in their first-ever Grand Final.
The Tale Behind The Game
Before a packed and enthusiastic audience in Hull, the opening 10 minutes were nothing short of exhilarating, highlighted by the thrilling performance of Erasure's 'Respect' from the audience, which created an incredible atmosphere.
As anticipated, an arm wrestling match broke out soon after, with the home team taking control. Following a penalty in a favorable position when Wolves' Rodrick Tai brought down a pursuing Tyrone May, Batchelor demonstrated impressive determination and strength, powering through to reach over for the first try in the 17th minute, putting Hull KR ahead 4-0.
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The pressure grew, and the Robins were clearly in control, making significant progress and keeping the visitors at bay. The Wolves had their best opportunity when Dufty got a chance in the 31st minute, but it was canceled out due to obstruction.
After that, KR maintained the pressure and was rewarded with additional points in the 35th minute, although it sparked some debate, thanks to winger Joe Burgess.
Burgess charged in from the dummy-half position, and since there was no clear reason for the video referee to change the on-field call of a try, it stood. Lewis successfully converted the kick, increasing the score to 10-0 at halftime.
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Even though KR controlled the first half, Warrington started to gain momentum, and their confidence increased. Ashton showcased his talent, scoring a powerful try from dummy-half just after halftime and following it up with an incredible acrobatic move that cut the lead down to only two points.
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With 20 minutes left on the clock and the score at 10-8, Warrington had gained the upper hand. The visitors were full of confidence and taking some risks.
However, Hull KR remained resolute and valiantly protected their goal repeatedly, successfully holding their ground all the way to the Super League Grand Final—the first one ever for the club.
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"Peters: Big Moment For The Club, Burgess: No Bitterness"
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Hull KR's head coach, Willie Peters:
"It's a big deal for this club."
There was a time when I feared we might lose, but I’m truly proud of how our players persevered, just as they have throughout the entire season.
"We simply needed to continue supporting one another and stay resilient. That was the key takeaway, and they truly embraced it. It was a hard-fought victory."
"We have one more to play. Naturally, we’re thrilled about reaching this point - we’ll savor the moment and then regroup, aiming to improve next week."
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Warrington Wolves' head coach, Sam Burgess:
When asked if it was a painful loss, I would say that’s true.
We expected them to start strong and gain the upper hand physically right from the beginning. However, we believed that if we stayed resilient, we would have a shot at victory.
"I believed we accomplished that... but I felt the two attempts were not very strong."
They were never going to change the decision about the Burgess try, but I'm puzzled by what they noticed, as it seemed no one else observed the same thing.
"We're not holding any resentment. Hull KR have performed really well throughout the year, but it’s hard to lose because of little things - those details contribute to the final outcome and unfortunately, it didn’t turn out in our favor tonight."
Betfred Super League Live Updates
Saturday, October 5th at 5:00 PM.
Coming up, the Leigh Leopards will travel to face the Wigan Warriors, the winners of the League Leaders' Shield, this Saturday. The game will be broadcast live on Sky Sports+ starting at 5 PM.
The Super League Grand Final is set to happen at Old Trafford on Saturday, October 12, and will be broadcast live on Sky Sports.
The game is scheduled to start at 6 PM, and you can catch the coverage on Sky Sports beginning at 5 PM.
Sky Sports+ has officially been introduced and will be included with Sky TV, the NOW streaming service, and the Sky Sports app. This update allows Sky Sports customers to enjoy more than 50% additional live sports this year without any extra charges. To learn more, click here.
