Hull KR beat Warrington to reach first Grand Final

James Batchelor's try to open the scoring for Hull KR was his first since April

Betfred Super League

Hull KR (10) 10

Tries: Batchelor, Burgess Goal: Lewis

Warrington Wolves (0) 8

Tries: Ashton 2

Hull KR reached their first Super League Grand Final after resisting a ferocious Warrington Wolves comeback at a rapturous Craven Park.

A James Batchelor try and contentious Joe Burgess finish put the hosts 10-0 up on a momentous night for a side transformed in recent years by head coach Willie Peters.

Matty Ashton scored two brilliantly taken second-half tries to give Sam Burgess' Wolves renewed hope of reaching a second major final this season - having made it to June's Challenge Cup decider, which they lost to Wigan.

In a pulsating finish, Hull KR's defence resisted a merciless barrage from Warrington, who had two late scores overruled as they fell just short in the first play-off semi-final.

They will meet the winner of Saturday's other last-four tie between defending champions Wigan Warriors and Leigh Leopards in the Grand Final on 12 October.

The Robins earned a week off and home semi-final after finishing second in the table, while Wolves needed golden-point extra-time to edge out St Helens in an elimination play-off thriller to get to within 80 minutes of their first Grand Final since 2018.

But there will be no Old Trafford return for Warrington this year under high-profile head coach Burgess in his rookie season as boss, as Hull KR became the 10th new team to reach a Super League Grand Final in the competition's history.

For a side that was relegated to the Championship eight years ago, and finished bottom of the table as recently as the Covid-impacted 2020 campaign, their trip to Manchester for the northern hemisphere’s showpiece rugby league event signifies how enormous the Robins' turnaround has been.

Matty Ashton scored 21 regular season Super League tries for Warrington

With each side boasting a Man of Steel nominee in their ranks – in Hull KR’s Mikey Lewis and Warrington’s Matt Dufty - and just two points and one place separating the pair in the table after 27 regular-season games, the semi-final showdown promised much.

Batchelor gave the hosts a deserved lead in the 18th minute of a captivating tie, as he stretched out to finish after squirming free of two tacklers.

Warrington improved after the setback and had a Dufty try ruled out for obstruction on the half-hour mark, only to then go further behind in controversial circumstances.

Referee Liam Moore ruled that Burgess had managed to ground his effort after crashing over from close range, and despite it being sent to the television match official there was no conclusive video evidence to overrule the on-field call.

Ashton gave Warrington the ideal start to the second half, slamming the ball down for Wolves’ first try in the 46th minute having started the initial attack with a brilliant break and run.

And the lively winger had Wolves back within two points of the hosts as he took a Dufty pass on the left before diving over in the corner.

Josh Thewlis’ failure to land either conversion left the visitors still chasing the game with 20 minutes left, but Ashton’s 24th and 25th tries of the Super League campaign set up a tense and, at times, chaotic finish.

Hull KR’s defence worked tirelessly to keep the Wolves from snatching victory, though two chances went begging with a Thewlis try ruled out for a forward pass from Rodrick Tai, while a last-minute touchdown from Toby King failed to count as Dufty knocked-on before the winger collected the loose ball to scamper over.

'Job not done' - reaction

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters told BBC Humberside:

“I’m proud, really, really proud of the players, proud of the staff and everyone involved because it’s been a lot of hard work to get here.

“As you saw tonight, the players worked extremely hard to hang on to that lead they had.

“It was only goal kicking that was the difference, it was a very even game. We had to fight, we had to dig deep because there was a period there where I thought this is going to slip away from us.

“The job's not done at all, but we will enjoy that [win]. You have to enjoy being in Grand Finals and Grand Final weeks don’t come around often, but there is one game to go and we are going out to try and win that title.”

Warrington Wolves boss Sam Burgess told BBC Radio Merseyside:

"I'm disappointed we lost - we came here to win.

"We showed lots of spirit, which I knew we would, and I knew the start would be hard because they were a bit fresher and we had a six-day turnaround.

"I thought we managed it okay and thought the tries were pretty soft. The second try, the Burgess try, I don't even know if it was a try. But I don't know what the ref sees or how he can send it up as a try?

"It's disappointing that it was part of the game, but it probably wasn't the reason that cost us so I need to get over it.

"We had a couple of chances that we didn't quite take and you have to give Hull KR credit, they are a great side and have had a great year."

Hull KR: Evalds; Burgess, Hiku, Broadbent, Hall; May, Lewis; Sue, Parcell, Whitbread, Storton, Batchelor, Hadley.

Interchanges: Litten, Luckley, Tanginoa, Brown.

Warrington Wolves: Dufty; Thewlis, Tai, King, Ashton; Williams, Drinkwater; Yates, Walker, Harrison, Bateman, Nicholson, Currie.

Interchanges: Powell, Crowther, Vaughan, Philbin.

Referee: Liam Moore.