Hull KR enter the post‑season as the reigning champions, but to repeat that success they face an extraordinary challenge: they would need to become the first club ever to capture the Super League crown from the sixth‑place position. The season has been a roller‑coaster for the Robins.
After lifting the World Club Challenge trophy they suffered a humbling loss in Las Vegas, and a pattern of inconsistency saw them scrape into the playoffs as the final team to qualify. Their first hurdle is an away match against the Warrington Wolves, followed, if they prevail, by a potential showdown with the double‑winners – Challenge Cup holders and League Leaders’ Shield champions Wigan Warriors – in a bid to reach the Grand Final at Old Trafford. "It’s a tough ask," head coach Willie Peters told Sky Sports, "but I’m preparing the squad to extend my farewell to the club before I head back to Australia to take charge of the new NRL franchise, the PNG Chiefs." Peters has deliberately rested most of his senior players in two of the last three weeks, trusting the depth of his squad to step up when the stakes are highest. He admitted that the team’s recent performances have not been good enough, but emphasized the importance of the upcoming fixtures.
"We have three games ahead of us, and the most crucial is this weekend’s clash with Warrington. If we get that win and then beat Wigan, we’ll have earned our place in the final," he said.
The broader Super League landscape is also buzzing with news. Brad O’Neill, Adam Keighran and Lachie Miller have been named on a three‑player shortlist for the 2026 Man of Steel award, while Leigh Leopards and Wigan Warriors are set to face an independent investigation into their conduct over the past year. Meanwhile, five Wigan stars have made the Man of Steel shortlist, and the club is focused on a tough battle against a battle‑hardened Wakefield Trinity for a Grand Final berth.
Peters summed up his philosophy with a simple maxim: "You get what you deserve, and we will get what we deserve – whether that’s playing in the big one or bowing out early." He added, "We know where we want to be, that’s for sure. I’ve watched Warrington closely this season – they have a blend of youthful exuberance and seasoned experience, with Sam Burgess still delivering strong performances.
We’re not happy just to exit this week or the next; we want to be back at Old Trafford and create more memories." For Hull KR to realise their ambitions, they must first overcome Warrington, a side that finished third but has somehow escaped widespread media scrutiny. Loose‑forward Ben Currie relished the low profile, saying it allows his team to concentrate on their own objectives without external pressure. "We see a lot of media chatter, but Warrington and our players aren’t mentioned much, and we love it that way," Currie told Sky Sports.
"I’d rather the cameras stay away and it’s just about us on the field. It shows the consistency of our team – we’ve all worked together, there haven’t been many standout individuals, just a collective effort." The playoff schedule is set: Friday 18 September sees Wakefield Trinity take on Leigh Leopards at 8 pm on Sky Sports, followed by the Warrington‑Hull KR quarter‑final at 5:30 pm the next day. The semi‑finals are slated for 25 September (Leeds Rhinos versus a TBC opponent) and 26 September (Wigan Warriors versus a TBC opponent), both on Sky Sports.
The season will culminate with the Grand Final at Old Trafford on 3 October. Hull KR’s journey will test their resilience, depth and tactical acumen. The coaching staff must balance resting key players with maintaining match sharpness, while the squad needs to translate the lessons from early‑season highs and lows into consistent, high‑intensity performances. If they can navigate the Wolves’ robust defence and then outplay a Wigan side hungry for another title, they will not only defend their crown but also rewrite Super League history by becoming the first team to triumph from sixth place.
The road ahead is demanding, but the Robins are determined to seize the moment and add another chapter to their legacy.