How Michael McIlorum to Hull KR could actually end up as the best 2025 Super League signing

Hull KR announced the signing of Catalans Dragons hooker Michael McIlorum on Thursday evening in what is being regarded as one of the most surprising transfers for 2025, but could it also be one of the best?

The reason for the surprise is not because McIlorum is a bad signing or that Craven Park is a massively shocking destination given Hull KR’s rising status in Super League. Instead, the shock comes from the fact that it was a signing that nobody expected.

Not a single rumour about McIlorum to Rovers had been heard with the 36-year-old either expected to sign a further one-year deal in the South of France or call time on his 18-year professional career.

What was not expected was for him to start year 19 as a professional with Hull KR but that is what will happen with the Robins confirming his arrival last night in a deal that is arguably the best that a Super League side has completed for 2025.

Here’s why…

Hull KR Quiz: Can you name these former Super League players?

Why Michael McIlorum to Hull KR could be Super League’s best signing for 2025

Changing Culture at Hull KR

Michael McIlorum has played over 350 career games at club level with a further 15 international caps for both Ireland and England, appearing at four World Cups.

It’s a career that has seen him achieve the one thing that Hull KR are striving for – silverware. McIlorum has tasted the success of lifting both the Challenge Cup (2011,2013, 2018) and Super League (2010, 2013) trophies, completing the double in 2013.

Hull KR are certainly getting closer to silverware with the team making the Super League play-off semi-finals in two of the past three seasons, whilst also making the Challenge Cup Final last year and semis this season.

They’re no longer the noisy neighbours in the city of Hull. The East side of Hull is now the dominant side but their rivals FC have the one thing in recent times they don’t – silverware. Hence, Michael McIlorum and all his experience and winning character makes perfect sense.

He will be part of a forward front line alongside NRL legend Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, the Kiwi another man who has done it all and knows exactly what it takes to win. The arrival of those players after signings such as Ryan Hall and Shaun Kenny-Dowall highlight the culture change at Craven Park.

They’re on the brink and just one win on the biggest stage will take them over the mountain and potentially see them become a perennial winner such as teams like Leeds Rhinos and St Helens have been, and what Wigan Warriors currently are.

McIlorum ensures a position of need is a position of strength

In the past two seasons, Hull KR have had glaring positions of need that could have been viewed as the reason to prevent them from success. On both occasions, they have addressed them brilliantly.

At one point when looking ahead to the 2024 campaign, the Robins had just Ryan Hall and Louis Senior as their winger options. Looking at them now, they still have the evergreen Hall but added Joe Burgess on the opposite wing whilst packing the backs with versatile players such as Jack Broadbent and Niall Evalds who provide cover. Moreover, they have Tom Davies replacing Hall in 2025.

Just two weeks ago, it appeared that hooker was the problem position for Hull KR in 2025 with both Matt Parcell and Reiss Butterworth off-contract leaving youngster Lennie Ellis as the only recognised number nine to support England international Jez Litten.

That was until London’s 21-year-old star Bill Leyland signed last week but he would clearly need nurturing and protecting given he’s yet to play a Super League game and will be returning from injury. Enter the best possible player to nurture a young nine in Michael McIlorum.

The 36-year-old will provide brilliant cover for Litten and be the best teacher available for both younger men. The method by which Hull KR have built their ‘number nine room’ appears to take inspiration from the NFL regarding ‘Quarterback rooms’.

Litten is the star incumbent, Leyland is the star of tomorrow and McIlorum is the best possible ‘backup’ / mentor available. Of course, describing a player of McIlorum’s quality as a ‘backup’ is disrespectful but Jez Litten will almost certainly be the clear starter.

Who else could McIlorum attract?

Another huge boost that a team will see when signing a player of the calibre of Michael McIlorum is the influx of other players that could follow with Willie Peters‘ side now a highly desirable destination.

Since Hull KR managed to sign the likes of Shaun Kenny-Dowall back in 2020, they’ve brought in Lachlan Coote, Ryan Hall, Korbin Sims, Peta Hiku, Tyrone May and now Michael McIlorum, to select a handful of names from the dozens who have arrived since then.

Kenny-Dowall was influential in the signing of Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as well with the pair having been teammates at Sydney Roosters back down under.

In the statement confirming his arrival, Waerea-Hargreaves said: “My best mate is Shaun Kenny-Dowall, I played nearly ten seasons with Skids. When he went over to Hull, we stayed in contact and he’s spoken highly of Hull KR and the people in the club.

“It’s being a part of what I wanted to do. Now that this opportunity is here, it’s very exciting. Once we started talking about it happening, it moved quickly.

“We started talking about it in November last year, we met up in Paris for the Rugby Union World Cup Final and he asked what I was up to and said the opportunity was there (at Hull KR) and here we are now. I rang Willie and I rang Skids and said let’s make it happen.”

That begs the question of who could both JWH and McIlorum persuade over to Hull KR as well. It’s clear that the Robins are firmly on the up and such a signing could be the one that pushes them over the edge.