Hull KR and their brilliant season has come to a dramatic end as they were battered 42-12 by Wigan Warriors who will now join Sam Tomkins and the Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford in the Grand Final.
It was a bitter pill for Hull KR fans to swallow and fans were divided in their respond.
Some were furious with what had unfolded with one branding it a disgrace:
“Useless club. Disgraceful performance, feel sorry for all the fans that went and watched that. Worst semi-final performance for quite some time.”
Others could sense the optimism going into next year: “We go again next season. Up the Robins!”
This dichotomy was repeated by other fans:
“Would’ve been closer if we’d have played the reserves.”
But former player Mose Masoe summed it up perfectly:
“Not the result we all wanted but Hull KR stand up for a great season reaching the final in the cup and semi-final in the league. We are on the up.”
Wigan Warriors and Hull KR collided knowing they would meet Catalans Dragons at Old Trafford if they came away with the win.
The Warriors went into the game as favourites as they did at the home of Leeds Rhinos earlier this year when they lost to Hull KR in the Challenge Cup semi-final to set up the first Wembley final without Leeds, Wigan, St Helens and Warrington Wolves since 1986.
The Robins knew if they won they would set up the first Grand Final ever without St Helens, Leeds or opponents Wigan.
The Cherry and Whites got off to a flying start as Liam Marshall crossed the whitewash just two minutes into the game. A sweeping move through the Wigan backline found the ball in Jai Field’s hands, and the fullback burst through a gap and sent Marshall in for the games first try.
Field turned from provider to scorer as he put his name on the scoreboard in the sixth minute. A Harry Smith kick caused chaos in the Robins back line, and with a bit of luck the ball hit Field’s shin and he pounced on the ball to score.
Marshall made KR pay for a piece of ill-discipline as he slid over for his brace. The winger wrong footed three defenders on the left edge and extend Wigan’s lead to 16 points with just 12 minutes played.
Hull KR capitalised on a poor piece of handling from Abbas Miski to get their first points of the afternoon, as Elliot Minchella powered over from short range.
As was the case in the first half, Marshall scored with just two minutes played in the half. A kick from Harry Smith was swatted back by a Wigan hand, and another kick from French fell perfectly into Marshall’s hands for the winger to score his third.
Another Harry Smith cross-field kick caused chaos for the Hull KR defence, but this time it directly led to a try. Smith’s kick was swatted back by Kai Pearce-Paul and it fell directly into French’s hands who put it on a plate for King and the centre gleefully dived over to score on his final appearance at the DW in Cherry and White.
Jai Field grabbed a well deserved brace to score Wigan’s sixth try. Quick feet from prop Patrick Mago created a crack in the Robins line, and Field burst through it to score.
Not to be outdone by his partner on the other edge, Abbas Miski grabbed his 28th try of the season.
