Rugby League Roundup: Hull KR Emerge as Genuine Title Contenders
Hull KR is quickly rising as the primary challenger to reigning Super League champions Wigan Warriors and St Helens. While silverware has been elusive for the Robins in recent generations, one pundit believes this could be the year they finally break through and clinch some coveted hardware.
Former Super League star Kevin Brown, who has represented the likes of Wigan, Warrington, Huddersfield, and Salford, recently declared on The Sportsman’s “Last Tackle” show that Hull KR are not merely making up the numbers, but are in fact “genuine contenders” for trophies this season.
“They are, and I think you can see how much confidence they’ve got with the disappointment when they got knocked out of the Challenge Cup. That really hurt Willie Peters and his team, and now they’re focused solely on the league.”
Since the arrival of Australian head coach Willie Peters ahead of the 2023 campaign, the Robins have been arguably the third-best and most consistent team across all competitions, though they are yet to have a trophy to show for their efforts.
Sitting third in the table, Brown believes Hull KR are well-positioned for a strong second-half surge. He highlighted the impressive performances of the right-edge combination of Tyrone May and Peta Hiku as a particular strength, suggesting the team’s balance makes them a “dangerous one for all the top teams come the end of the year.”
The Robins did endure a testing clash against Castleford Tigers over the weekend, narrowly scraping through 13-12. However, Brown believes this ability to “win ugly” is a testament to the team’s growing credentials as genuine title contenders.
Defensive Vulnerabilities
With the absence of key second-rower James Batchelor due to injury, Hull KR will need to address the defensive vulnerabilities on their right edge. But if they can overcome this challenge, the stage is set for the Robins to finally end their long wait for silverware and emerge as a force to be reckoned with in the 2023 Super League season.
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