Hull KR need Wembley win to “exorcise ghosts” of record defeat, claims pundit

Last weekend saw two underdogs win their Challenge Cup semi-finals with Super League champions St Helens knocked out at the semi-final stage for a second year running by Leigh Leopards, whilst holders Wigan Warriors were edged out by Hull KR.

Rovers now head to Wembley for the first time since their 2015 hammering at the hands of Leeds Rhinos, and they’re searching for a first victory since 1980.

As for Leigh they’ve not lifted the prestigious trophy since 1971, making it more than half a century since a Leigh fan has seen their side victorious.

It’s set to be a special day at Wembley on August 12th with the 1895 Cup, which Leigh are the current holders of, being played as well as both the men’s and women’s finals.

Whilst it’s been a longer wait for Leigh, it’s arguably been a more traumatic wait for Rovers to lift the trophy especially considering how their last effort went.

That infamous day in 2015 saw them fall to a 50-0 defeat, a Challenge Cup record, with current Leigh man Tom Briscoe scoring five for the Rhinos that day.

That’s something that has been referenced by Willie Peters and former Rovers playmaker Paul Cooke spoke of it on BBC Humberside.

“I’ve seen an interview with Willie Peters as well where he said ‘last time we were in a final we didn’t do ourselves justice’, and they’ve spoken a lot this week or they’ve spoken about the semi-final of last year and exorcising them ghosts.”

Of course last year’s semi-final saw the Robins fall to a heavy defeat against Huddersfield Giants, but now they’ve made it to Wembley there’s a different ghost that needs exorcising claims Cooke.

“I spoke to lots of Hull K.R. fans at Headingley, they came over and we had chats, about losing 50-0 and that trauma, you know the taxi ranks around here 50 50 50.

“Even the 50 mile an hour coming home on the motorway every time you know through the 50 mile an hour zone. I mean they must be ropeable and if they can get away with one and get their first major trophy since the 80s, that’ll go a long way.”