Warrington Wolves issued a post‑match statement after securing a 34‑28 triumph over Hull KR in the rescheduled Super League round‑two fixture at Sewell Group Craven Park. The encounter, originally postponed 22 rounds earlier because the Robins were on a tour of Las Vegas, finally took place under circumstances that seemed to favor Sam Burgess’s side, who surged ahead to a victory that leaves them just two points shy of the league summit. For Hull KR, the most notable storyline was the return of Mikey Lewis from a four‑game suspension. During his absence the Robins had won every match, but his comeback was marred by a sin‑bin offence in a game that ultimately saw them finish second.
The yellow card was issued for a dangerous tackle on kicker Ewan Irwin, a challenge that Wolves head coach Sam Burgess labelled "dangerous". Burgess added that Irwin was fortunate to walk away unscathed and warned that such a tackle would attract harsher penalties in the NRL.
Hull KR enjoyed a 14‑10 halftime advantage, built on a penalty goal from Rhyse Martin and converted tries by Lewis and Karl Lawton. The second half, however, belonged to Warrington.
After an early missed conversion from Albert Hopoate, James Bentley crossed the line, but the Wolves still trailed by four points. A dominant second‑half display saw Toafoa Sipley, Liam Byrne, George Williams and Albert Hopoate add their names to the scoresheet, while late consolation tries from Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jnr proved insufficient. Lewis’s sin‑bin episode added drama to his return but did little to alter the final outcome. The match opened with a penalty goal from Martin after Warrington were penalised for a high tackle on Frenchman Arthur Mourgue.
Hull KR then slipped into a series of errors, dropping the ball twice and conceding another penalty. Warrington capitalised, forcing three repeat sets before finally breaking through. A sweeping move from left to right culminated in Hopoate grounding the ball in the corner after 18 minutes, though Irwin failed to convert. The Wire continued to press, and after a penalty for a holding offence, England captain George Williams delivered a crisp pass to Bentley, who raced over for a close‑range try.
Irwin added the extras this time, pushing the score to 10‑2 in Warrington's favour. Hull KR, however, fought back before the break.
Lewis, fresh from his suspension, was the first to score, reacting quickest to a well‑placed kick from Jez Litten that landed in the in‑goal area. A minute later, Lawton powered over, with both conversions taken by Mourgue, giving the Robins a 14‑10 lead at halftime. The second half began with a surge from Warrington. Prop Toafoa Sipley powered over from a few metres out after a clever pass from Danny Walker, and Irwin again converted, putting the Wolves ahead three minutes after the restart.
At the 50‑minute mark, Mourgue levelled the scores with a penalty goal, restoring parity at a crucial juncture. Tensions rose as a scuffle erupted, drawing players from both sides together. The incident seemed to unsettle Hull KR, and Mourgue was penalised for a needless block on Walker while his team were retreating from their own try line. Irwin seized the opportunity, slotting another penalty to regain a two‑point lead for Warrington.
Shortly after, Lewis kicked the ball dead on the full for the second time, and Warrington capitalised once more. Byrne smashed through the defensive line to score a try, which was converted, extending the Wolves' lead to eight points as the game entered its final quarter.
From there, the momentum flowed almost unidirectionally. Williams slipped inside Litten to score a try that was promptly followed by a brilliant kick, perfectly finished by Hopoate, further stretching the gap.
Late in the contest, Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jnr crossed for Hull KR, but their scores were merely consolations. George Williams was named player of the match. Speaking to Sky Sports, he praised his teammate Mikey Lewis, describing him as "a nice quiet lad" who occasionally makes mistakes but remains one of the competition's finest players.
Warrington head coach Sam Burgess expressed satisfaction with his squad, acknowledging that the first half did not go their way but highlighting the team's resilience, physicality, and collective effort. He noted that the scoreline did not fully reflect the dominance displayed in several areas of play. Hull KR coach Willie Peters, also speaking to Sky Sports, admitted the second half was difficult to watch. He lamented the defensive lapses that allowed numerous tries and said the team was brave but ultimately fell short.
Peters said he would review the incident involving Mikey Lewis to determine its severity. Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League match live this season, with two games each round shown exclusively live and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.