Ex-player argues Hull KR would finish last in the NRL despite World Club Challenge win

Former Hull KR player Willie Mason has lauded the Robins’ World Club Challenge win but also claimed that they would finish last in the NRL.

Hull KR held off Brisbane Broncos’ comeback on Thursday night as they won 30-24 to lift a historic World Club Challenge, cementing themselves as the best team in the world.

Despite that, former Robins man Willie Mason and fellow ex-Super League man Justin Horo have argued that NRL teams do not care about the event as much, and that Hull KR would place last in the Australian competition.

Speaking on their Levels Podcast, Mason gave his reasoning for why Super League sides have won the last three World Club Challenge matches, bluntly stating: “Because we (the NRL) don’t care as much about the game. You go over there and smash the p**s all week and turn up.

“I know they keep beating us but they’re not better than us. There’s no way.”

He then added: “If you put Hull KR in the NRL, wooden spoon! For that one game, they get up when we’re just not on that level. It means so much more to them, they smashed the f**K out of the Broncos.”

“They want to win more than us” – Hull KR NRL chances assessed

Mason did ensure to give Hull KR some credit but he was keen to underline the fact that success for the Robins was a result of a one-game effort, as he justified his argument that they would struggle in the NRL.

“We’re giving them their flowers but we’re trying to work out why they keep beating us in a World Club Challenge,” he stated.

“They want to win more than us, that’s as simple as I can put it.

“They’re not not talented. They’ve got a load of talent so if you’re off a little bit, they’ll get you.”

Co-host Horo agreed on Hull KR’s NRL chances, stating: “Hull KR would get the spoon in the NRL and whilst I do believe that, it’s not like they’re complete mugs. I still think that they would run the table in New South Wales and Queensland Cups.

“Some of these players like Jez Litten and Mikey Lewis have got NRL potential. There’s a heap over there. Potential is the word though because you might not be able to do it week in and week out but you can get up for a game and ambush them.”

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