Hull KR legend Michael Dobson reckons Robins are ready to go all the way

They “faded” when he was at his peak but Hull KR legend Michael Dobson reckons the Robins can now rock all the way to Old Trafford.

The Aussie scrum-half will avidly be watching on 12,000 miles away when Rovers host Warrington in Friday’s crunch semi-final. He was a massive crowd favourite during his six-year stint at Craven Park, including a brilliant 2009 campaign when they finished fourth and made the play-offs for the first time. Admittedly, they ran out of gas, losing to Leeds and Wigan, and have still yet to make a maiden Grand Final.

However, Dobson, 38, believes this current Robins team - who secured a highest-ever second place finish - can finally get them to the main event. Now coaching with NRL club Newcastle Knights, he said: “I’ve followed KR closely for the last couple of months and they’re doing a great job. I’m sure the stadium will be packed out Friday night.

“It’s the best I’ve played at in terms of atmosphere. It’s unbelievable. When you’re winning games and playing well, those fans are right behind you. It’s hard to describe just how good it is. It will be a physical game but Willie Peters has obviously got KR going really well. They are well-coached and with Mikey Lewis there at number seven they’ve got a great shot at Warrington.

“If they play their best, I think they’ll be good enough to win it. I am confident of that. They just need to go execute now.”

Dobson was one of four Robins who made the Dream Team in 2009 along with fellow Aussies Clint Newton and Ben Galea plus England winger Peter Fox. Ironically, current KR wideman Ryan Hall, then of Leeds, also made the team. Ex-Canberra and Wigan ace Dobson, who played more than 150 games for the club, admitted: “I loved my time at KR.

“My best years of footy were there. But that year was really special. Rovers had only been in Super League a couple of years so to go on that run was brilliant. We obviously faded late on and got knocked out in straight sets in the finals. I was pretty inexperienced back then. I’d only been playing a few years in Super League.

“But when you look back on that team we probably didn’t realise just how good it was at the time. It’s only when you’ve been to a few different clubs and a few years later when you sit back and realise it was a special side. You could say it was an opportunity missed overall. But leading up to it and to have the year we did was great with the Dream Team the icing on the cake for a lot of us.”

And after losing two Super League semi-finals in the last three years, Dobson believes the modern-day Robins are now good to go. He said: "Willie was at Newcastle before moving over [ahead of 2023] and I got to meet him. He’s a good fella doing a fantastic job and it is good to see them doing so well. I’ll be watching on Saturday morning to see if they get it done.”

He will be especially pleased if they do so for long-term owner Neil Hudgell. Dobson explained: “I had a pretty close relationship with Neil when I was there. He’s a good man and the amount of money and time he’s put into that club over a long period, is pretty special. Hopefully they go on and make the GF and win it. Without Neil, Hull Kingston Rovers wouldn’t be the club they are so it’d be great to see them go all the way and win it for him.”

Meanwhile, as one former No7 to another, Dobson has enjoyed watching the talented Lewis who has been shortlisted for the Man of Steel. He said: “Mikey is a great player. From what I’ve seen, he likes running the footy, he takes the game on, has a good little kicking game and is playing some great footy. His best years are still ahead of him. Hopefully he keeps progressing and he can lead Hull KR to the GF and win it.”