Hull KR complete an unprecedented treble in dramatic fashion
The 143-year-old club etched its name into rugby league folklore with a performance that will be talked about for years. Hull KR toppled Wigan in the Super League Grand Final in front of a packed Old Trafford crowd, completing a season that defied tradition and doubt alike. Joe Burgess’ late seal added gloss to a night when the Robins demonstrated why they are now seen as the sport’s leading force.
For decades, Hull KR were known as rugby league’s bridesmaids — a team with talent and tempo but a habit of finishing just short when it mattered most. This season, under Willie Peters, they didn’t just win a trophy; they captured the treble, a rare feat in modern rugby league and one that the city will celebrate for generations.
The treble that confirmed a turning point
The semi-structured drama of the season finally found its crescendo at Old Trafford. The Robins began the final with a display of intensity and discipline that set the tone: quick lines, aggressive defence and a ruthless kicking game. Wigan, by contrast, looked to reproduce their own era of domination, but Hull KR pressed relentlessly and never surrendered their lead after the opener.
The turning point arrived when Brad O’Neill received a sin-bin for a dangerous tackle on Tyrone May. In his absence, Hull KR seized their moment: Mikey Lewis sliced through and touched down, before Burgess doubled the advantage with a try that underscored the visitors’ growing confidence. A missed conversion by Lewis did little to dull the impact of that swing, as Wigan found themselves chasing shadows rather than answers.
Clinical execution seals the night
As the first half drew to a close, Adam Keighran’s penalty kept the visitors within reach, and a late strike by Harry Smith after the break briefly suggested a potential comeback. Yet Hull KR answered with a controlled, surgical response: a penalty by Rhyse Martin nudged their lead to six, and Jez Litten delivered the decisive blow with a superb team move to extend the lead to 12.
In the closing moments, Burgess burst clear for a late try that reminded everyone of the speed and strength in KR’s ranks. The substitute bench collapsed to the turf as supporters roared, aware that something historic had unfolded. The night belonged to Peters and his squad, who have transformed a club that finished bottom of the Super League as recently as 2020 into a treble-winning powerhouse.
Reaction and what lies ahead
Post-match reflections highlighted the extraordinary nature of Hull KR’s achievement. Peters spoke with humility about the work still to be done, while praising his players for sustaining energy in the pivotal periods that decided the outcome. “There are only a handful of teams to win the treble, and doing it twice is even rarer,” he noted, underscoring the magnitude of the feat.
Wigan, meanwhile, reflected on a night that could have followed a different script had a few chances fallen their way. Their head coach acknowledged Hull KR’s performance as a demonstration of what can be achieved when a squad combines belief with relentless execution. The result also shone a light on the resilience of Hull KR’s captaincy and game management, long seen as hallmarks of their transformation.
A new era in Super League
For supporters and neutrals alike, this Grand Final confirmed that a new era is underway in Super League. Hull KR are no longer chasing the story of a great club’s near-miss; they are writing a fresh chapter in which consistency, belief and tactical acuity drive them to the top. Burgess’s late breakthrough only served as a dramatic coda to a season that will be remembered for generations.
