Warrington Wolves secured a 34-28 triumph over Hull KR in their rescheduled Super League round‑two fixture at Sewell Group Craven Park, a victory that moved them to within two points of the competition's top spot. The match, originally postponed 22 rounds earlier because the Robins were on a tour in Las Vegas, finally took place under conditions that seemed to favour Sam Burgess’s side, who dominated the second half to clinch the win. Hull KR’s most notable storyline was the return of Mikey Lewis, who came back from a four‑game suspension that had coincided with a flawless run of four wins for the club. Unfortunately for the Robins, Lewis’s comeback was marred by a sin‑bin offence.
He was shown a yellow card for a dangerous tackle on Warrington kicker Ewan Irwin, a challenge that head coach Sam Burgess described as "dangerous" and "a bad challenge at the back end of the game." Burgess added that Irwin was fortunate to walk away unscathed and warned that such a tackle would attract a harsher penalty in the NRL. The first half saw Hull KR lead 14-10, thanks to a penalty from Rhyse Martin and converted tries from Lewis and Karl Lawton.
Warrington, however, struggled to convert early chances, missing a conversion from Albert Hopoate and failing to capitalize on early pressure. The Robins’ early dominance was punctuated by a penalty conceded for a high tackle on French play‑maker Arthur Mourgue, which gave Martin an early lead for Hull KR.
Warrington’s breakthrough came after a series of errors from Hull KR, including two knock‑ons and another penalty. The Wolves forced three repeat sets and finally broke the deadlock when a sweeping move across the field saw Albert Hopoate dive over in the corner after 18 minutes.
Although Irwin missed the conversion, the momentum began to shift. Later, England captain George Williams delivered a crisp pass to James Bentley, who sprinted over for a close‑range try, with Irwin adding the extras to put Warrington ahead 10-2. Hull KR responded before the break.
Lewis, on his return from suspension, capitalised on a well‑timed kick from Jez Litten, grounding the ball in the in‑goal area. A minute later, Lawton powered over, and both conversions were successfully kicked by Mourgue, giving the Robins a 14-10 lead at halftime. The second half belonged to Warrington. Within three minutes of the restart, prop Toafoa Sipley powered over from a few metres out after a clever pass from Danny Walker, with Irwin converting again to extend the lead.
At the 50‑minute mark, Mourgue levelled the scores with a penalty goal, making it 14-14 and setting the stage for a tense finish. The game’s intensity escalated when a scuffle broke out, involving players from both sides.
Hull KR’s composure slipped when Mourgue was penalised for a needless block on Walker as his team retreated from their own try line. Irwin seized the opportunity, slotting another penalty to restore Warrington’s two‑point advantage. Shortly after, Lewis kicked the ball out on the full for the second time, providing Warrington with a golden opportunity. Liam Byrne exploited the ensuing scrum, breaking through the defensive line to score a try that was converted, pushing the Wolves eight points ahead as the match entered its final quarter.
The Wolves then capitalised on their momentum. George Williams, the match’s standout performer, sliced through the defense to score near the posts, then delivered a brilliant kick that Albert Hopoate finished with precision, further extending the lead. Late in the game, Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jr added consolation tries for Hull KR, but the deficit was too great to overcome.
After the final whistle, George Williams was named player of the match. In his interview with Sky Sports, he praised Mikey Lewis, describing him as a "quiet lad" who had made a mistake but remained one of the competition’s top talents. "He’s one of the best players in the comp," Williams added, urging supporters to back him. Warrington head coach Sam Burgess expressed pride in his squad despite the first‑half struggles.
"I’m happy and proud of the team. We didn’t have it our way for parts of it, but we reassessed and showed great spirit. The scoreline didn’t reflect the first half, and it’s fair to say it doesn’t fully reflect the second half either.
We were dominant in many areas and everyone did their jobs," Burgess said. Hull KR coach Willie Peters admitted the second half was difficult to watch. "It was a tough second half. There were many moments we won’t want to replay.
We’re disappointed with the tries we allowed and with the overall performance. Warrington are a very good team; they didn’t have to work hard to get through us. We were brave, but the game was effectively over by the end," Peters told Sky Sports.
He also said he would review the incident involving Mikey Lewis to determine its severity. The match’s outcome propels Warrington Wolves to within two points of the league leaders, intensifying the title race as the season progresses.
Sky Sports will continue to broadcast every Super League game live this season, with two matches each round shown exclusively on its main channel and the remaining fixtures available on Sky Sports+.