Warrington Wolves issued a post‑match statement after securing a 34‑28 triumph over Hull KR in the rearranged Super League round‑two fixture held at Sewell Group Craven Park. The game, originally scheduled 22 rounds earlier, had been postponed because the Robins were competing in Las Vegas. The rescheduled encounter proved advantageous for Sam Burgess’s side, who surged to victory and moved to within two points 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 season, a period during which the Robins won each of those contests. His comeback, however, was marred by a sin‑bin offence later in the match, a moment that highlighted the fine margins between discipline and opportunity. The yellow‑card offence stemmed from a dangerous tackle on Warrington kicker Ewan Irwin. Head coach Sam Burgess described the challenge as “dangerous” and added that Irwin was fortunate to escape unscathed.
Burgess cautioned that such a tackle would be dealt with more severely in the NRL, underscoring the importance of player safety across both competitions. Hull KR entered the game with a 14‑10 lead at halftime, thanks to a penalty from Rhyse Martin and converted tries by Mikey Lewis and Karl Lawton. The first half was a tightly contested affair, with both teams trading scores and errors. Martin’s early penalty came after Warrington conceded a high‑tackle on French play‑maker Arthur Mourgue, giving the Robins an early foothold.
The second half saw Warrington assert dominance. An early unconverted effort from Albert Hopoate was followed by a James Bentley try, narrowing the gap. The Wolves then launched a relentless offensive surge, with Toafoa Sipley, Liam Byrne, George Williams and Albert Hopoate each crossing the line.
Late‑stage scores from Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jr. provided Hull KR with consolation points, but they were insufficient to overturn the deficit. Warrington’s breakthrough came after a series of repeat sets that forced Hull KR into a defensive scramble. A sweeping move across the left flank culminated in Hopoate grounding the ball in the corner at the 18‑minute mark.
Although Irwin missed the conversion, the Wolves continued to apply pressure, eventually capitalising on a penalty for holding down. England captain George Williams delivered a crisp pass to Bentley, who raced over for a close‑range try, with Irwin adding the extras to give Warrington a 10‑2 advantage. Hull KR responded before the break.
On his return from suspension, Mikey Lewis capitalised on a well‑timed kick from Jez Litten, diving over in the in‑goal area. A minute later, Karl Lawton powered over, both conversions taken by Mourgue, putting the Robins ahead 14‑10 at the interval. The second half opened with a powerful surge from prop Toafoa Sipley, who ploughed over from a few metres out after a clever pass from Danny Walker. Irwin’s conversion restored a two‑point lead for Warrington.
At the 50‑minute mark, Mourgue levelled the scores with a penalty goal, setting the stage for a tense climax. Tensions flared when a scuffle broke out between the two squads. The incident resulted in a penalty against Hull KR after Mourgue was judged to have blocked Walker unnecessarily while his team was retreating from their own try line. Irwin capitalised again, slotting a penalty to regain a two‑point edge.
Soon after, Lewis kicked the ball out on the full for the second time, gifting Warrington another scoring opportunity. Liam Byrne broke through the defensive line and touched down, his try converted to extend the Wolves’ lead to eight points as the game entered its final quarter. The Wolves continued to press, with George Williams exploiting a gap inside Jez Litten to score, followed by a beautifully placed kick that Albert Hopoate finished with clinical precision. These scores widened the margin and effectively sealed the match.
Hull KR managed late consolation tries from Dean Hadley and Tevita Pangai Jr., but the effort came too late to affect the outcome. After the final whistle, George Williams was named player of the match. In his interview with Sky Sports, Williams praised Mikey Lewis, describing him as a “quiet lad” who occasionally makes mistakes but remains one of the competition’s finest talents. Warrington head coach Sam Burgess expressed pride in his squad, acknowledging periods when the team did not execute as intended but emphasizing the collective spirit and physicality displayed.
He noted that the scoreline did not fully reflect the first‑half performance and that the Wolves had been dominant in many areas throughout the contest. Hull KR coach Willie Peters admitted the second half was difficult to watch, citing numerous moments the team would prefer not to revisit.
He lamented the defensive lapses that led to the conceded tries and promised to review the Mikey Lewis incident further. Peters praised Warrington’s quality but maintained that his side showed bravery and could have avoided a larger defeat.
The match was broadcast live on Sky Sports, with the network covering every Super League game this season. Two matches each round are shown exclusively live on the main channel, while the remaining fixtures are available via Sky Sports+.
Overall, the victory propels Warrington Wolves within striking distance of the league leaders, intensifying the battle for the top spot as the season progresses.