Warrington Wolves issued a post‑match statement after securing a 34‑28 triumph over Hull KR in the rearranged Super League round two fixture at Sewell Group Craven Park. The game, originally scheduled 22 rounds earlier, had been postponed because the Robins were on a tour in Las Vegas.
The rescheduled date proved advantageous for Sam Burgess’s side, who ran away with 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‑match suspension.
Lewis had missed the first four games of the campaign, a period during which the Robins won each encounter. His comeback, however, was marred by a sin‑bin offence in a match that ultimately saw his team finish as the under‑dog. The yellow card was issued for a dangerous tackle on Warrington kicker Ewan Irwin, a challenge that head coach Sam Burgess described as “dangerous” and “unlucky for Irwin, who walked away unharmed.” Burgess added that such a tackle would be dealt with more severely in the NRL, underscoring the seriousness of the infraction. Hull KR entered the half‑time break with a 14‑10 lead, thanks to a penalty from Rhyse Martin and converted tries from Lewis and Karl Lawton.
The Wolves, however, responded emphatically after the interval. An early missed conversion from Albert Hopoate was followed by a James Bentley try, narrowing the gap. The second half then turned into a showcase of Warrington’s attacking depth: Toafoa Sipley, Liam Byrne, George Williams and Albert Hopoate all crossed the line, while late consolation scores from Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jnr could not overturn the result.
The match opened with Hull KR taking the initiative when Martin slotted a penalty after Warrington were penalised for a high tackle on French play‑maker Arthur Mourgue. The Robins soon fell into a pattern of errors, dropping the ball twice and conceding another penalty. Warrington capitalised on the pressure, 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 Wolves continued to apply pressure, and after a penalty for a holding offence, England captain George Williams delivered a crisp pass to Bentley, who sprinted in for a close‑range try. Irwin added the extras, pushing Warrington ahead 10‑2. Hull KR rallied before the break: Lewis, fresh from suspension, was the first to react to a well‑timed kick from Jez Litten, grounding the ball in the in‑goal area, and a minute later Lawton powered over, both conversions coming from Mourgue.
This sequence gave the Robins a 14‑10 lead at the interval. The second half began with Warrington’s prop Toafoa Sipley crashing over from a few metres out after a clever pass from Danny Walker, with Irwin converting to restore a two‑point advantage. At the 50‑minute mark, Mourgue narrowed the margin again with a penalty goal, leaving the scores level at a pivotal stage.
Tensions rose when a scuffle broke out, involving players from both sides. Hull KR then lost composure; Mourgue was penalised for an unnecessary block on Walker as his team retreated from their own try line.
Irwin seized the opportunity, slotting another penalty to put Warrington two points ahead. Shortly after, Lewis kicked the ball dead on the full for the second time, giving Warrington a golden‑point chance. Liam Byrne broke through the defensive line and dived over for a try, which Irwin converted, extending the lead to eight points as the game entered its final quarter. From there, the momentum was firmly in Warrington’s favour.
George Williams sliced through the inside of Litten to score, and then produced a superb kick that Albert Hopoate finished with aplomb, further stretching the gap. Hull KR managed late consolation scores from Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jnr, but the effort was insufficient to overturn the deficit. In post‑match interviews, Wolves’ player of the match George Williams praised Mikey Lewis, describing him as a “quiet lad” who sometimes gets things wrong but remains one of the competition’s best.
Head coach Sam Burgess expressed pride in his squad, acknowledging periods where the game 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 both halves.
Hull KR coach Willie Peters admitted the second half was “tough to watch,” lamenting defensive lapses that allowed too many tries. He praised his players’ bravery but recognised the need to review the incident involving Mikey Lewis.
Both coaches reflected on the intensity of the contest and the fine margins that separate victory from defeat. Sky Sports will broadcast every Super League match this season, with two games each round shown live on the main channel and the remaining fixtures streamed on Sky Sports+. Fans can also follow live tables, purchase tickets, and listen to the Bench podcast hosted by Jenna and Jon for further analysis.