The defending Super League champions, Hull Kingston Rovers, clawed their way back into the playoff race after staging a dramatic 34‑20 comeback win over local rivals Hull FC, erasing a 12‑point shortfall in the process. Hull FC entered the encounter on the back of an eight‑game derby losing streak and exploded out of the gates, racing to a 12‑0 advantage within the first eight minutes thanks to early scores from Joe Batchelor and Davy Litten. However, the Rovers responded with vigor, narrowing the gap before the break with tries from Tom Amone and Arthur Mourgue, and went into halftime level at 12‑12. The second half saw Hull FC briefly retake the lead, 14‑12, after Zak Hardaker slotted a penalty.
Yet Hull KR quickly reclaimed the initiative when Jack Broadbent crossed for a try and Mourgue added another penalty, pushing the Robins ahead by six points. The pivotal 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 match. Mourgue’s subsequent penalty further widened the margin, and although Hull FC’s Jake Arthur managed a late score, it was insufficient to overturn the deficit.
In the closing stages, Jordan Dezaria powered over for another Hull KR try, sealing a memorable comeback victory. Hull FC head coach Andy Last reflected on the defeat to Sky Sports, acknowledging the early dominance but lamenting the loss of composure in the latter stages. "We started brilliantly, getting to 12‑0, and in the last 15 minutes of the first half we began to gain some ascendancy in the ruck," he said.
"Unfortunately we then allowed a couple of soft tries. In the second half we struggled to get out of our own half; Hull KR are excellent at choking field position. We had a chance with 15 minutes left, but we lacked the patience to keep them pinned, and Burgess’s intercept try was a real back‑breaker.
Credit to Hull KR – they were the better side today." He also praised the performance of Hull KR’s man‑of‑the‑match, Jez Litten, noting his impact throughout the game. "We controlled large portions of the first half, but the momentum shifted in the ruck.
Litten was outstanding – he dominated many phases for Hull KR and gave us a lesson to learn from," Last added. On the other side, Hull KR’s head coach Willie Peters described the win as a relief after a potentially ugly start. "If anyone questioned our fight before the game, I’m proud of the response. We were 12‑12 at halftime – not perfect, but the group showed the fight I wanted to see," he told Sky Sports.
Peters emphasized the new challenges facing the club, now that they find themselves outside the top six for the first time in recent memory. "We’re in unfamiliar territory, but it’s a great challenge. We’ll review the season later and continue to build our fight," he said.
He also highlighted the importance of team cohesion, stating, "Connected teams win. If we weren’t connected, we wouldn’t have turned this game around." Jez Litten, who earned the player‑of‑the‑match accolade, shared his thoughts on the derby’s intensity.
"Derbies are always special. It wasn’t the prettiest game, but we stuck together and earned another derby win," he said. "Coming back from 12 points down showed our resilience.
We’ve had a tough few weeks, but what matters is the conversation inside the dressing room walls." Litten also reinforced the Rovers’ championship mindset as they head into the crucial latter part of the season. "We’re still the champion team, and tonight proved that.
Many clubs want to knock us off, but we’re not the full package yet – there’s a lot to improve. We’ll stay humble, work on our game next week, and keep fighting," he concluded.
The match, like all Super League fixtures this season, will be broadcast live on Sky Sports, with two exclusive live games each round and the remaining five matches shown throughout the week. The dramatic turnaround in Hull’s derby underscores the unpredictable nature of the league and the fierce rivalry that continues to fuel both clubs’ ambitions.