Hull KR showed no mercy toward a depleted Castleford side, blasting the Tigers 50-6 and securing a third‑place spot in the Betfred Super League. The defending champions ran in nine tries, a display that highlighted both their attacking firepower and Castleford’s ongoing injury woes. Castleford entered the match deep in an injury crisis, with four new signings—Tyler Dupree, Phoenix Laulu‑Togaga'e, Tom Nicholson‑Watton and Brad Dwyer—making their debuts at Craven Park. Despite the fresh faces, the Tigers were riddled with errors and struggled to contain the Rovers, who cruised to a sixth consecutive win across all competitions, largely thanks to a hat‑trick from Tom Davies.
Karl Lawton, who rarely starts at hooker, kicked the scoring off with a pair of tries. He was quickly joined by Tom Amone and Dean Hadley, who each crossed the line before the break, helping Hull KR build an imposing 34‑0 lead at halftime.
After the interval the pace slowed slightly, but Mikey Lewis and Joe Burgess still found the try line, and Davies completed his own treble, bringing the home side’s total to the half‑century mark. Rhyse Martin was flawless with the boot, converting seven of the nine tries and cementing the Rovers’ dominance. The victory propels Hull KR into next Sunday’s Challenge Cup semi‑final against Warrington at Doncaster, a repeat of last year’s high‑profile encounter, and they head into that game with considerable momentum.
Castleford’s own mistakes contributed heavily to the rout. Both Zac Cini and Renouf Atoni mishandled the ball, and each lapse was punished when Lawton swooped in from dummy‑half to score. Laulu‑Togaga'e, returning nervously to his former club, showed early signs of unease, dropping a high kick from Lewis and then being exposed by Peta Hiku’s tackle, which set up a simple try for former Tiger Tom Amone. The Castleford full‑back continued to misjudge his lines, allowing Hull KR to exploit the right flank.
Davies spun past Jason Qareqare to score the fourth try, while Hadley raced to the corner after a grubber from Elliot Minchella, and Davies added another acrobatic finish just before the break. The second half offered no respite for the Tigers. A routine high ball went astray when Darnell McIntosh spilled the ball in his own in‑goal area, giving Lewis an easy opportunity to score from his own kick. Hull KR’s defense, which had only yielded 38 points in the previous four matches, held firm, repelling five successive sets from Castleford before capitalising on another scoring chance.
Joe Burgess, who has now touched down nine times in his last five league outings, dived over on the left to extend the lead. Willie Peters’ side continued to press, driving the Tigers deep into their own half.
A swift move down the right culminated in Davies sprinting 20 metres to beat the defense and claim his third try of the match. Although Castleford managed to add a consolation score—Krystian Mapapalangi latching onto a kick from Laulu‑Togaga'e and grounding the ball—the damage was already done.
Overall, Hull KR’s performance was a masterclass in both attack and defence. Their ability to convert opportunities, combined with a disciplined back‑line that limited Castleford to just six points, underscored why they are now firmly in the top tier of the league. The win also marks a significant statement ahead of the upcoming Challenge Cup semi‑final, where they will look to maintain their winning streak against a familiar opponent.
For fans wanting to follow the action, Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League game live this season, offering exclusive live coverage of two matches each round while the remaining five fixtures are shown on the main Sky Sports channels.