Hull KR owner Neil Hudgell has reacted to his club’s epic 30-24 World Club Challenge win over Brisbane Broncos, offering praise for his coach as well as a little job at rivals Hull FC.
As if boasting a treble wasn’t enough, Hull KR can now not only boast a World Club Challenge win, but a World Club Challenge win at the home of their rivals with Thursday night’s game played at the MKM Stadium.
Asked about winning such a massive game at the home of their rivals, Neil Hudgell said it was a welcome change of pace for the Robins fans who had suffered a 40-year trophy drought.
“I guess for these people, they’ve got a lot of stick down the years,” he said post-match on Sky Sports in reference to the adoring Hull KR fans who had witnessed the historic win.
Hudgell then added: “Ten years ago, when we got relegated, they flew a plane over our stadium. It took ten years to answer them but for the people in this stadium tonight, maybe that’s an answer.”
Despite racing into a 30-4 lead with under half an hour to go, three rapid-fire tries and a fourth late on left Rovers panicking, including Hudgell.
“They’ve got so much strike when they get a roll on so even 20 up, you’re thinking that there’s a chance or possibility there,” he admitted.
Hull KR owner reacts to incredible World Club Challenge win
That rollercoaster nature of the game was a metaphor for the past decade of Hull KR, Hudgell argued, with the club relegated before rebuilding and finally ending their trophy drought in emphatic fashion.
“What an incredible night. What an incredible journey,” he said.
“Tonight is like the last ten years, just this rollercoaster of ups, downs and in-betweens. There’s always theatre attached to our club but I cannot begin to describe tonight and how that makes me feel.”
The groundwork may have been laid before him but it’s Willie Peters who has overseen the trophy-winning era with Peters now boasting four trophies, just a month into his fourth season at the club.
Asked about his head coach, Hudgell admitted: “I leave him to get on with it. We had three exchanges this week. He asked me to speak to the players. I said I can’t because I was away, so I did a video.
“I give him as much or as little as he wants. I mean, he’s just a genius really. The way that he and Paul (Lakin) operate together is just an irresistible combination.”
He added: “There’s so many parts to the jigsaw, but them two drive the engine. If I have to sit on the sidelines and do nothing or do a two-minute video just to express what it means to me. I’m an East Hull lad, I’ve supported this club for 50 years.”
Hudgell’s final words will ring true with many Hull KR fans as he stated: “This is dream stuff. I said it was legacy last year when we won the treble but this is sort of immortality really.”
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HULL KR ARE WORLD CHAMPIONS 🌍🏆#UpTheRobins🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/kg2gEbMWfm
— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) February 19, 2026
