The defending Super League champions, Hull Kingston Rovers, clawed their way back into the playoff picture with a dramatic 34-20 comeback win over local rivals Hull FC, erasing a 12‑point shortfall to claim the derby. Hull FC entered the encounter on the back of eight consecutive derby defeats and began the match in blistering fashion, racing to a 12‑0 lead within the first eight minutes thanks to early scores from Joe Batchelor and Davy Litten.
Despite the early onslaught, the Rovers rallied before the break, leveling the score at halftime after tries from Tom Amone and Arthur Mourgue. The second half saw Hull FC briefly regain a slender advantage, 14‑12, courtesy of a penalty kick by Zak Hardaker.
However, Hull KR responded quickly; Jack Broadbent crossed for a try and Mourgue added a penalty, pushing the Robins six points ahead. The decisive moment arrived with just twelve minutes remaining. Hull FC appeared poised to extend their lead down the right flank, but Joe Burgess intercepted a pass and sprinted nearly 80 metres to the opposition’s try‑line, delivering Hull KR’s fourth try of the night. Mourgue then slotted another penalty, stretching the gap further.
A late try by Jake Arthur for Hull FC proved inconsequential as Jordan Dezaria broke through for a final Hull KR score, sealing the comeback. In post‑match comments, Hull FC coach Andy Last told Sky Sports, "We had the game in our hands early on, going up 12‑0. In the last fifteen minutes of the first half we began to dominate the ruck, but then we allowed a couple of soft tries.
In the second half we never really got out of our own half. Hull KR are excellent at choking field position.
We had a chance with fifteen minutes left, but we lacked the patience to keep them pinned, and the Burgess intercept was a back‑breaker. Credit to Hull KR – they were the better side." Last also praised Hull KR’s man of the match, Jez Litten, saying, "He dominated large sections of the game for them. There’s a lesson there for us." Hull KR head coach Willie Peters expressed relief at the result, noting, "It could have turned ugly after the early stages, but the team showed a lot of fight.
If anyone doubted our determination before the match, this is the answer. We were 12‑12 at half‑time – not perfect, but I wanted to see the group battle and they certainly did." Peters added perspective on the club’s evolving status: "We’re still learning as a club.
Last season we were in a different position; now teams are targeting us. Being outside the top six is new territory and a great challenge. We’ll review the season later, but there’s still plenty of fight left in us.
Connected teams win – if we weren’t connected, we wouldn’t have turned this game around tonight." Player of the match Jez Litten reflected on the derby’s significance, stating, "Derbies are always special. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we stuck together and earned another derby win. We came back from 12 points down, showing resilience.
We’ve had a tough few weeks; what matters is the conversation inside the dressing room walls. We proved we’re still the champion team heading into the business end of the season.
Many clubs want to knock us off, but we’re not the complete package yet – we have a lot to improve and will stay humble, working on our game next week." The match highlighted the intensity of the Hull derby, a fixture steeped in local rivalry and pride. Hull KR’s ability to overturn a sizable deficit underscored their defensive tenacity and opportunistic attacking play, particularly the game‑changing intercept by Burgess. For Hull FC, the loss was a stark reminder of the fine margins in high‑stakes encounters and the importance of maintaining composure under pressure.
Both coaches emphasized the need for continued growth as the season progresses, with Hull KR aiming to consolidate their playoff push and Hull FC seeking to rediscover the consistency that once made them dominant in derby clashes. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League game this season, offering live coverage of two matches each round and delayed broadcasts of the remaining fixtures, ensuring fans can follow the drama of the league from start to finish.