BY JOHN DAVIDSON
Three months in and it has been a dream season for Hull KR.
Beaten in a tough, tight and intense encounter in last year’s grand final, the Robins regrouped and entered the 2025 campaign a more determined, more experienced and arguably more resolute side.
After six rounds of Super League they sit alone on top of the table unbeaten – six games for six wins.
Hull KR have the best defence in the competition and the second-best points difference. They have the third-best attack, scoring the most points after Wigan and St Helens. On average they are scoring 29.1 points a match and conceding just 7.3 points.
The Robins went for experience and grit when they made roster changes heading into this year. In came veterans Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, Michael McIlorum, and Rhyse Martin, along with Tom Davies. Out went Corey Hall, Matty Storton, Louis Senior, Matt Parcell and Ryan Hall.
While Waerea-Hargreaves and McIlorum might be at the tail end of their careers, they’ve added what Hull KR were missing – steel, toughness and resolve – both on and off the field. Old, gnarled heads who have been there and done it before at the highest level. Winners.
Waerea-Hargreaves might not be leading Super League in carries, tackles or metres made, but it is what the Kiwi is doing at training and around the team that carries weight. It’s the same for McIllorum. He provides a different foil to Jez Litten, with the one-two-punch of hookers in tandem working a treat.
Undefeated after six matches is a great start, but coach Willie Peters is not getting carried away.
“It’s been a good, solid start to the season but Saturday is do or die,” Peters tells rugbyleaguehub.com Long Reads.
“We need to make sure we get our performance right this week. But I’m happy with the way we’ve been building improving each week, we just need to make sure we do it on Saturday.”
On Saturday afternoon Hull KR cross the city to face Hull FC at the MKM Stadium. A juicy Challenge Cup quarter-final against their biggest rivals awaits.
It’s the start of a massive three weeks for the club that could help define their season – FC in the Cup, followed by Wigan at home, and then again away to FC in Super League.
“Any derby you’re up for,” Peters says.
“But with where both teams are sitting on the ladder at the moment it adds a little bit more in terms of how competitive the game will be.
“It doesn’t matter where teams are sitting, it’s always a tough, physical game, but this week I think will be even better.
“Obviously FC is doing so well compared with last year. But everyone’s excited, you can tell it’s a derby week.
“They’re nice and relaxed at the moment but on Saturday they won’t need any extra motivation, it will be there.”
The Robins head into the quarter-final with a great record in derbies under Peters – only one defeat since the Australian took over at the end of 2022.
“It’s massive for the city and divides families and workplaces,” he admits.
“We understand the importance of the derby and what it means to a lot of people. It’s higher than ourselves and it’s always nice to be able to put smiles on people’s faces, which we hope to do on Saturday.”
The match-up against Hull FC comes at an interesting time, with their neighbours enjoying a speedy resurgence few had predicted. At the moment the Super League table reads Hull KR top with six wins, followed by the Airlie Birds in second with four wins, a loss and a draw, and then Wigan with four wins and two defeats.
Hull FC only won three matches in all of a disastrous 2024, and nearly took out the wooden spoon. But in just three months, under John Cartwright and bankrolled by new owners, they have already beaten that feat.
Their come-from-behind Cup victory over the Warriors, at Wigan, emphasised their turnaround and the dangers they pose.
“You look at their team and they’ve brought in experience,” Peters says.
“Last year they were a young team. A lot of those guys weren’t ready but they were stars in the making.
“They’re genuine first-time players now. Lewis Martin’s a great player already.
“The other one on the wing as well, I know he’s not playing at the moment, but there’s some guys there that are first-team players now and would make a lot of teams, but they’ve added in the experience of Sezer, Rapana and Hardaker, guys who have played in big, big games. So to be honest it’s a pretty even competition.
“Hull FC are spending cap pretty much, like everyone else, which means the game should be competitive and anyone can win on their day. That’s what the NRL do and we’re the same now.
“So I’m not surprised how Hull FC are going, I never underestimate any side before the start of the season. 22-6 down, that was a really good sign for them to come back and win against Wigan.
“Last year that score would have blown out, but they didn’t have the team, they didn’t have the experience last year. So, they’ve brought in new players, such as Will Pryce this week, and they’ve got a well-balanced team.
“I’m not surprised, [but] the Wigan game was one where you go ‘wow that’s a really big turnaround’ and ‘big result’.
With Cup holders Wigan knocked out of the competition, the Cup is now wide open. Hull KR know victory on Saturday will mean a huge step closer to a much sought-after trophy.
Then there is the Warriors and Hull FC again to come in the league. More tests will follow, more challenges lie ahead. No one is celebrating in east Hull just yet. Many things can change over the course of the next six months.
But if they can remain consistent, and maintain the levels of performance they have demonstrated since February, the omens are positive.
