Hull KR end unwanted Super League Grand Final record amid semi-final controversy

Coldplay are playing here next year but they will do well to light Craven Park up as much as this.

Hull KR brought the house down and reached their first-ever Super League Grand Final with a stunning win over Warrington. A sold-out capacity crowd watched on as Willie Peters’ side delivered when it mattered most. But it was tense. Having led 10-0 at the break, Matty Ashton’s double left them clinging on, desperate Wolves having two late efforts chalked off.

Rovers pulled through with some brilliant last-ditch defence, Josh Thewlis’ missed conversion attempts proved costly for Sam Burgess’ Wolves who still haven’t won the league since 1955. Rovers will face the winners of tomorrow's other semi-final between Wigan and Leigh at Old Trafford next Saturday.

It’s some story for a club who finished bottom of the pile just four years ago.

READ MORE:

READ MORE:

Rovers had lost two Super League semi-finals in the last three years but this was the first time they had home advantage. They were missing banned captain Elliot Minchella and injured ex-England centre Oli Gildart but it didn’t matter. A tight opening was finally broken when second-row James Batchelor came up with a strong finish in the 17th minute.

Matt Dufty thought he’d responded 13 minutes later but the Man of Steel contender’s effort was chalked off after Matty Nicholson’s illegal dummy run. Warrington struggled to click in attack with both George Williams and Josh Drinkwater messing up short kicks.

At the other end, Dufty was also needed to make a try-saving tackle on Joe Burgess. When England captain Williams did make a half-break, he passed outside to a home player. Rovers scrum-half Mikey Lewis couldn’t resist rubbing it in, shoving his England team-mate in the back to cause one blow-up.

Wind-up merchant Lewis, already embroiled in a feisty running battle with John Bateman, was lucky not to be penalised. That proved crucial, too, as soon after his side scored their second try in controversial circumstances. Winger Burgess burrowed over and Liam Moore - signalling a try - went to the video referee for confirmation.

Jack Smith poured over countless replays and it appeared Burgess had been stopped from grounding the ball. But there was no conclusive proof - so the try was given. Lewis converted the 34th minute effort for a 10-0 interval lead. But England winger Ashton, in his 100th appearance for Warrington, responded in the 46th minute after Toby King’s classy break.

Peters admitted: “I am so proud of everyone. There’s been a lot of hard work to get here. They worked so hard to hang on to that lead. Goal-kicking was the only difference but we had to fight and dig deep. There was a period where I thought it might slip away from us.

“But the boys did it. And we’re not done. We’re not off to Old Trafford to enjoy the history and surroundings. We’re going to win.”

Thewlis missed the conversion attempt. Williams was on hand to crucially prevent Sauaso Sue going over before Ashton added his second try in the 58th minute. It was another superb finish off a fine Dufty pass but Thewlis was marginally wide again.

When Ryan Hall made a rare handling error with five minutes to go, Warrington had another chance but the hosts once more rallied to deny them, Thewlis touching down but Rodrick Tai's pass being ruled forward. Dufty, too, was denied at the death before Craven Park erupted at the final hooter.

Sam Burgess said: “I’ve got to question that [Burgess] score going up as a try. What’s he seen there? We knew it’d never be overturned. No one else saw it.

“But we’re not bitter. Hull KR have been great all year. It didn’t go our way tonight and our performance was not up to standard. “We need to be better.”