Hull KR overcame a second-half scare to beat Hull FC in the derby at Super League Magic Weekend.
The Robins ran out as 26-12 winners over their cross-city rivals in a win that saw them rise to third, level on points but with a better points aggregate than all of those in fourth, fifth, and sixth.
For Hull FC, the loss leaves them sat in 10th but they came close to landing the upset with the scores level at 12-12 at the hour mark but a Lewis Martin error was then capitalised on by Jai Whitbread, whose go-ahead score proved critical.
Tyrone May then added another before Rhyse Martin kicked his 500th Super League goal to make it 26-12 and secure the win.
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Hull KR and Hull FC talking points
Eight in a row
It wasn’t pretty but it was a win and that now means eight derby wins in a row for Hull KR with Willie Peters extending his record to nine wins from ten in the fixture.
Whilst they clearly have the wood over their rivals, the fact that KR won this whilst way off their best is a major boost during a time when questions have been asked of the Robins.
When Jack Broadbent was dragged behind his own goal line just two minutes after Tom Briscoe’s try that made it 12-10, the momentum was shifting in the way of the Black and Whites and when they levelled it, it looked like only one team would win it.
Despite that, Hull KR proved the victors as they stuck to the grind and iced the final 15 minutes in a manner that successful teams do. Whilst it’s just one win, it’s certainly one that answers plenty of questions of Hull KR ahead of a run of games that see them face Wakefield, Warrington and then Hull FC again.
Green shoots for FC
There’s been lots of talk about the injury issues at Hull KR but it’s been forgotten how much worse impacted Hull FC are but the fact is that they’ve become accustomed to their injury issues and that’s now starting to show some green shoots.
Hull FC have finally started to adapt to their injury issues and recent performances have seen them much improved even if the results are not going their way. This season might be over in the sense that they won’t make the play-offs and they have a new coach coming in for 2027 anyway, however, their performances are certainly improving.
They’ll take on Hull KR later this month in another massive match and if they can continue their incremental improvements then you’d fancy them in that one at the MKM Stadium.
Team selection for KR
Willie Peters made a number of changes to his side but the most eye-catching calls saw Ryan Hampshire named at full-back with Jack Broadbent selected on the wing over Noah Booth, with Joe Burgess still out injured.
Broadbent has been one of the Robins’ most dangerous players and is generally good for over 150 metres with the ball out of backfield from full-back and that was a dynamic that Rovers lost when Ryan Hampshire played that role.
Moreover, Jack Broadbent bombed a near-certain try that natural wingers, including the available Noah Booth who was an unused sub, would surely have scored.
The Robins are short on bodies in the pack for sure but carrying an unused sub and then only handing Bill Leyland nine minutes ensured that those in the pack were put under more strain than possibly needed.
Birthday boy Lewis in heat of action
He’s never far from the action but on what was his 25th birthday, it’s fair to say that Mikey Lewis was bang in the middle of everything today – both the good and the bad.
He registered the game’s opening try before then assisting Rhyse Martin but as Hull FC found momentum in the second half, he found himself involved in the needle of the game and that certainly saw him lose his way.
It’s an element of his game that is similar to Jake Connor, however, you’d suggest that Connor has generally matured out of that but it’s potentially not yet done for Lewis and whilst it wasn’t costly today, it certainly could have been.
The Robins retain bragging rights 😤#SuperLeague | #MagicWKND pic.twitter.com/Im49dOtmLw
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) July 4, 2026
