Hull KR 2024 season review
Overview
If 2023 was the year the Robins put themselves on the scene, then 2024 was the one which confirmed them as a genuine force in Super League.
Rovers were outstanding this year, culminating in a first ever Super League Grand Final, which they lost to a moment of magic from Wigan’s Bevan French.
The season started with an easy 0-22 win over local rivals Hull FC, and that set the scene for what was to come.
They did lose back-to-back games in rounds three and four, against Salford and Warrington, which knocked them out of the top six for a solitary week. After that, the Robins never let go of their play-off spot, and they looked a good bet for the League Leaders’ Shield after sitting top of the table for five weeks throughout August.
A round 25 clash away at Wigan was effectively a decider to see who’d end up top, and the home side came through, just about, with a 24-20 win. The fact Rovers had two players sin-binned certainly played its part though, and they came out of that match with enormous credit.
They rounded out the regular season with wins over Leigh and Leeds, then had a week off before their semi-final clash with Warrington for a place at Old Trafford.
The Robins led 10-0 at half-time, thanks in part to a very controversial Joe Burgess try, and despite a Warrington onslaught in the second half, they held firm to grind out a 10-8 win.
On Grand Final night, there was little to choose between Rovers and Wigan, with defences coming out on top in a tight affair. It was Wigan who edged it though, through Bevan French’s brilliance in a 9-2 win, but the Robins will be back with a vengeance next year.
Highs
Mikey Lewis picked up the Steve Prescott Man of Steel award for his magnificent performances throughout the year. 19 tries and a joint competition high of 24 try assists helped his cause.
Head coach Willie Peters was an award-winner too, as he picked up the Coach of the Year gong. It was only his second season in charge, and his first saw them reach the Challenge Cup Final and a Super League play-off semi-final, so to say he’s doing ok would be an understatement.
Defensively, the Robins were outstanding all year too, and only Warrington bettered their points against record in the regular season. They had the third best attack too, with four players reaching double figures for tries.
As for individual matches, there are too many highlights to pick them all out, but their back-to-back wins over Wigan and St Helens by 16 and 20 points respectively were further proof that they’re now dining at the top table and are here to stay.
Lows
The Grand Final is the obvious place to start, but their Challenge Cup semi-final defeat – also against Wigan – was a far worse performance. The Robins were comprehensively beaten 38-6 on the day in an uncharacteristic loss.
Aside from that, low points were few and far between, and between that loss and the end of the season, they picked up 15 wins from 18 games. The only losses were a Golden Point defeat against Catalans, and those two decisive games against Wigan, which stopped a great year from being an unbelievable one.
Reasons to be positive in 2025
This really isn’t hard to write. I had my doubts about Rovers’ ability to top their magnificent 2023 season this year, but they somehow managed it, so the signs all point to them being another leading contender in 2025.
With Willie Peters at the helm and Mikey Lewis steering the team around the park with the unsung Tyrone May next to him, there’s every chance they can lift silverware next year.
And I haven’t even mentioned the new signings heading to East Hull next year. Tom Davies and Michael McILorum are excellent pick-ups from Catalans Dragons, Rhyse Martin has been a Leeds Rhinos standout, while Bill Leyland was the Championship Young Player of the Year in 2023 with London Broncos before injury cruelly robbed him of a Super League opportunity this year.
And yet, I still haven’t even mentioned the biggest name – Jared Waerea-Hargreaves – a 300+ game veteran in the NRL with a trophy cabinet to make you blush and plenty still left in the tank to offer Super League.
My 2024 prediction – 4th
Final 2024 position – 2nd (+2)
After their fourth-placed finish in 2023, I expected more of the same from Rovers this year, and I had my doubts as to whether they could lift again. How wrong I was. They were simply sensational this year, they were just unfortunate to come up against a side as good as Wigan, but there’s every reason they can go again and be right in the mix again in 2025.
