Hull KR target first Grand Final to cap rapid rise

Hull KR's Mikey Lewis (second left) has blossomed in 2024 as part of an impressive attack

These are heady days for those on the east side of the city of Kingston-upon-Hull, thanks to Hull KR's rise as a rugby league force.

Just eight years ago, tears flowed in the Craven Park stands as Salford's Gareth O'Brien sank them to the Championship with a booming long-range golden-point drop-goal.

Even as recently as 2020, the club finished a Covid-punctuated season bottom of the table with only three wins from 17.

It is all the more impressive that in 2024, Rovers are 80 minutes from a first Super League Grand Final having secured a top two place and a home semi-final during a dazzling regular season campaign.

One of the architects of that turnaround has been head coach Willie Peters, who built on the foundations laid by predecessors Tim Sheens and Tony Smith to assemble a side capable of challenging for major honours.

The impact has been tangible - yielding a Challenge Cup final appearance last season and a slew of play-off semi-finals.

"We've always wanted to build towards being a top-four club," Peters told BBC Sport.

"You need to do that 'year in, year out', and we have done that over the past couple of years but we're still on our journey.

"We're not a club any more where you come for a pay day or an in between stop for something bigger. It's a club that players and staff want to come to.

"That's been built over a number of years and individuals are getting their rewards now."

Craft and graft - Robins' recipe for success

Sauaso Sue and the Hull KR forwards have helped set a platform for the creative players to thrive

The mixture Peters has nurtured at Hull KR is one that harnesses power and strength with equal parts creativity and subtlety.

Their pack has the motor and bulk in players such as Jai Whitbread, Sauaso Sue, Kelepi Tanginoa and Sam Luckley to make yardage and blast holes in defences, while the tireless workrate of stalwarts Dean Hadley and James Batchelor is another factor in their success.

All this opens up opportunities for livewire hookers Jez Litten and Matt Parcell, as well as halves Tyrone May and Lewis and ball-playing lock Minchella.

There is a free scoring backline with veteran Ryan Hall, Joe Burgess and Peta Hiku among those who have contributed much to the points tally this season.

Such overall displays brought individual recognition for Minchella and Lewis with Dream Team selection.

"It's a huge achievement for Mikey and Mini for the efforts they've put in this season and that started back in preseason," Peters added.

"I'm sure they'd be the first to admit that it's their teammates who have helped them get the awards as well.

"The team plays a big part in individual achievements, because rugby league is a team game but certainly as individuals they've excelled this year.

"They're key positions, the spine are known as the communicators, game managers and the ones that ice the big moments.

"I really value what the forwards do too in allowing them to play, but I've seen a lot of growth in both of them over the past couple of years.

Play-offs 'new beast' excites Lewis

Mikey Lewis and his Hull KR teammates will remember last season's play-off thrashing by Wigan

Hull KR's 2024 statistics make for exciting reading - 21 wins from 27 regular season games, 719 points scored including a league-best 133 tries, and just 326 points conceded.

All that counts for nothing in the play-offs, however, where knockout 'footy' becomes the order of the day.

It would be a stretch to say the Robins are haunted by semi-final losses, but they have failed to reach the Grand Final at this stage in two of the past three seasons.

Yet, the squad are far from fazed by the task, and are excited for the experience of being in the play-off mix.

"That top two feeling was great but it's a new beast now, a new competition and a whole different ball game," half-back Lewis told BBC Radio Humberside

"I think we've learned from the past couple of years and we've got a different squad.

"We've approached things differently, we've been more consistent and we don't need to change what we've been doing.

"We'll work hard for each other, we have to be us and let the performance look after itself."

Captain Minchella remains key amid ban

Elliot Minchella is the Robins' leader as captain

If Hull KR are to break their run of last-four heartbreaks, they will have to do so without their influential skipper Minchella.

The Bradford-born loose-forward's form has been superb but a two-game ban upheld despite appeal means he will not be available until Old Trafford, should the Robins make it.

"It's hard to watch but at the same time I'm just trying to do anything I can to help my teammates," Minchella told BBC Sport.

"The situation I'm in, it's about how can I help the team and anything I can do even if it makes one percent difference, that's my role for the games I'm ineligible for.

"Those are the cards I've been dealt, I'm just cracking on and trying to make a difference away from the field that's what I'll try to do."

Another difference between this and Rovers' last attempts is that they will have home advantage for the first time after landing a top-two place.

Sewell Group Craven Park recorded a season's average attendance of 9,883 in 2024, and hope for a five-figure number to pack the ground for the game.

"It's unbelievable at the minute, we absolutely love the support they're incredible," Minchella added.

"We hope that buzzes the playing group and as a team we can put smiles on faces and make people proud."