Hull KR's unbeaten start ended as Wigan Warriors deliver on champion pedigree
Posted: Sat Apr 12, 2025 4:29 am
The Warriors ensured Rovers wouldn't make it to ten consecutive wins.
Hull KR's unbeaten start to the season is over after being defeated on home soil by Super League champions Wigan Warriors 28-12.
The Robins, who have had an excellent start to the season, went to war in a bruising encounter at Sewell Group Craven Park but for the fourth consecutive time, they came unstuck to Matt Peet's side, who had trailed for the majority of the game but won it in the final 15 minutes as tries from Harry Smith, Jai Field and Abbas Miski saw them home.
For Rovers, this will be a tough one to take. They have now lost four consecutive games against the Warriors, the side who denied them any silverware last year. Hull KR have won 24 of their last 29 matches. But four of those losses are to Wigan. This was also their first loss on home soil in ten games. It is clear that Wigan are the side who pose the biggest threat to their silverware hunt once again.
The scoreline blew out early but this was a tussle between the competition's two best teams. For the majority of the game, this was full-throttle, no holds barred rugby league.
Willie Peters made one change. It saw Arthur Mourgue come in for the injured Mikey Lewis but that resulted in a reshuffle. Mourgue went to fullback and Jez Litten moved to the halves. That meant Jack Broadbent dropped to the bench to offer options to change things up if required.
Sewell Group Craven Park is famous for its atmosphere but even by its own high standards, it was electric inside the ground here. Fans flocked in well over an hour before and by kick-off, the fans were raring to go. They screamed for a penalty at every opportunity, roared at every half break, cheered every big hit. It wasn't just the players who were desperate to get this win, but the fans too.
After eight minutes of pleading, the penalty came, then the try. It was Joe Burgess with the score, an acrobatic finish in the corner after great work from Oliver Gildart, who got around the outside of his man then provided the offload for the finish. Mourgue superbly converted from the touchline to extend the lead.
It was a blood and thunder affair. These two teams boast the best packs in the competition and it was clear to see that both wanted to prove their superiority. Dean Hadley and Junior Nsemba had a coming together, Kaide Ellis and Elliot Minchella were at each other all game. It was a feisty contest and it was clear what this game meant to both.
After a back-and-forth, Wigan equalised. However, it's a try Rovers will be fuming with. Micky McIlorum lost control of the ball at ruck, which resulted in a scrum.
There was then confusion among the Robins ranks as Jack Broadbent was primed to come on for the hooker. However, after hesitation, the sub wasn't made and McIlorum went to defend on the wing to see the play out. Wigan smartly raided that edge, passed the ball across McIlorum and Zack Eckersley sprinted the length to score an easy try. The Rovers players, most notably Joe Burgess, was livid. Harry Smith's conversion levelled it.
With that try, Wigan had a period of superiority. Rovers started falling off tackles and letting away offloads, giving Wigan more threat across the field.
But Rovers weathered and against the run of play, got back into the lead. Smith's kick trickled out and gave Rovers a seven-tackle set. They stormed up field and kept the ball alive. Sam Luckley's offload went to ground but it was picked up by Mourgue. The ball was moved to Broadbent, he found May who produced a wonderful double pump that caught out Wigan, and Hiku was able to finish it off.
Rovers thought they'd extended the lead before the break when May went over but it was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up. The half ended with the teams at each other's throats after Smith was barged out of play. Rovers had a slender lead after an explosive half.
The hosts thought they had scored again just after the break, but again were denied by the video ref when Burgess was judged to have fumbled when trying to ground a kick Wigan bravely tried to let go dead.
That resulted in a seven-tackle set, and from it, Wigan marched up field and scored in the corner. Jack Wardle's acceleration got him around Broadbent and able to keep Mourgue away from him. Crucially, Smith's kick went wide, leaving Rovers two points ahead with 55 minutes played.
The hostilities continued. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves took objection to Brad O'Neill having a slap at a team-mate and both teams were looking to physically hurt the other. It was a good, old-fashioned ding-dong.
With 12 minutes to play, Wigan went ahead for the first time. Tyrone May conceded a six again needlessly and when Smith saw a gap in the Rovers line, he took it, scrambling over to spark frantic scenes in the away end.
But the real dagger to the heart came three minutes later. Bevan French had been quiet most of the evening but then conjured up some magic when Joe Burgess flung a pass inside when heading for touch. French stepped one, then another, then got a call on his shoulder to pass. There was Jai Field, equally explosive, and he galloped away to score under the sticks. With that, the game was up. So was the unbeaten start.
Abbas Miski added another late on after a Joe Burgess handling error. It felt insignificant by then though.
Hull KR: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Jez Litten, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Micky McIlorum, Jared Waerea-Hargraves, Dean Hadley, Kelepi Tanginoa, Elliot Minchella. Subs: Jack Broadbent, Jai Whitbread, Jack Brown, Sam Luckley.
Tries: Burgess (8), Hiku (31)
Goals: Mourgue 2/2
Wigan: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Zach Eckersley, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Sam Walters, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis. Subs: Brad O'Neill, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill.
Tries: Eckersley (20), Wardle (55), Smith (68), Field (71), Miski (78)
Goals: Smith 4/5
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... source=nba
Hull KR's unbeaten start to the season is over after being defeated on home soil by Super League champions Wigan Warriors 28-12.
The Robins, who have had an excellent start to the season, went to war in a bruising encounter at Sewell Group Craven Park but for the fourth consecutive time, they came unstuck to Matt Peet's side, who had trailed for the majority of the game but won it in the final 15 minutes as tries from Harry Smith, Jai Field and Abbas Miski saw them home.
For Rovers, this will be a tough one to take. They have now lost four consecutive games against the Warriors, the side who denied them any silverware last year. Hull KR have won 24 of their last 29 matches. But four of those losses are to Wigan. This was also their first loss on home soil in ten games. It is clear that Wigan are the side who pose the biggest threat to their silverware hunt once again.
The scoreline blew out early but this was a tussle between the competition's two best teams. For the majority of the game, this was full-throttle, no holds barred rugby league.
Willie Peters made one change. It saw Arthur Mourgue come in for the injured Mikey Lewis but that resulted in a reshuffle. Mourgue went to fullback and Jez Litten moved to the halves. That meant Jack Broadbent dropped to the bench to offer options to change things up if required.
Sewell Group Craven Park is famous for its atmosphere but even by its own high standards, it was electric inside the ground here. Fans flocked in well over an hour before and by kick-off, the fans were raring to go. They screamed for a penalty at every opportunity, roared at every half break, cheered every big hit. It wasn't just the players who were desperate to get this win, but the fans too.
After eight minutes of pleading, the penalty came, then the try. It was Joe Burgess with the score, an acrobatic finish in the corner after great work from Oliver Gildart, who got around the outside of his man then provided the offload for the finish. Mourgue superbly converted from the touchline to extend the lead.
It was a blood and thunder affair. These two teams boast the best packs in the competition and it was clear to see that both wanted to prove their superiority. Dean Hadley and Junior Nsemba had a coming together, Kaide Ellis and Elliot Minchella were at each other all game. It was a feisty contest and it was clear what this game meant to both.
After a back-and-forth, Wigan equalised. However, it's a try Rovers will be fuming with. Micky McIlorum lost control of the ball at ruck, which resulted in a scrum.
There was then confusion among the Robins ranks as Jack Broadbent was primed to come on for the hooker. However, after hesitation, the sub wasn't made and McIlorum went to defend on the wing to see the play out. Wigan smartly raided that edge, passed the ball across McIlorum and Zack Eckersley sprinted the length to score an easy try. The Rovers players, most notably Joe Burgess, was livid. Harry Smith's conversion levelled it.
With that try, Wigan had a period of superiority. Rovers started falling off tackles and letting away offloads, giving Wigan more threat across the field.
But Rovers weathered and against the run of play, got back into the lead. Smith's kick trickled out and gave Rovers a seven-tackle set. They stormed up field and kept the ball alive. Sam Luckley's offload went to ground but it was picked up by Mourgue. The ball was moved to Broadbent, he found May who produced a wonderful double pump that caught out Wigan, and Hiku was able to finish it off.
Rovers thought they'd extended the lead before the break when May went over but it was ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up. The half ended with the teams at each other's throats after Smith was barged out of play. Rovers had a slender lead after an explosive half.
The hosts thought they had scored again just after the break, but again were denied by the video ref when Burgess was judged to have fumbled when trying to ground a kick Wigan bravely tried to let go dead.
That resulted in a seven-tackle set, and from it, Wigan marched up field and scored in the corner. Jack Wardle's acceleration got him around Broadbent and able to keep Mourgue away from him. Crucially, Smith's kick went wide, leaving Rovers two points ahead with 55 minutes played.
The hostilities continued. Jared Waerea-Hargreaves took objection to Brad O'Neill having a slap at a team-mate and both teams were looking to physically hurt the other. It was a good, old-fashioned ding-dong.
With 12 minutes to play, Wigan went ahead for the first time. Tyrone May conceded a six again needlessly and when Smith saw a gap in the Rovers line, he took it, scrambling over to spark frantic scenes in the away end.
But the real dagger to the heart came three minutes later. Bevan French had been quiet most of the evening but then conjured up some magic when Joe Burgess flung a pass inside when heading for touch. French stepped one, then another, then got a call on his shoulder to pass. There was Jai Field, equally explosive, and he galloped away to score under the sticks. With that, the game was up. So was the unbeaten start.
Abbas Miski added another late on after a Joe Burgess handling error. It felt insignificant by then though.
Hull KR: Arthur Mourgue, Tom Davies, Peta Hiku, Oliver Gildart, Joe Burgess, Jez Litten, Tyrone May, Sauaso Sue, Micky McIlorum, Jared Waerea-Hargraves, Dean Hadley, Kelepi Tanginoa, Elliot Minchella. Subs: Jack Broadbent, Jai Whitbread, Jack Brown, Sam Luckley.
Tries: Burgess (8), Hiku (31)
Goals: Mourgue 2/2
Wigan: Jai Field, Abbas Miski, Zach Eckersley, Jake Wardle, Liam Marshall, Bevan French, Harry Smith, Liam Byrne, Kruise Leeming, Sam Walters, Junior Nsemba, Liam Farrell, Kaide Ellis. Subs: Brad O'Neill, Patrick Mago, Tyler Dupree, Harvie Hill.
Tries: Eckersley (20), Wardle (55), Smith (68), Field (71), Miski (78)
Goals: Smith 4/5
https://www.hulldailymail.co.uk/sport/r ... source=nba
when you beat a very good team 28/12 I think ,for me ,the legend " Hull's unbeaten start ended as Wigann Warriors deliver on champion pedigree" says everything! Needed to be said,although I do understand the need of some to micro- manage 
MP is doing a fine job long may it continue