Hull KR set for surprise Challenge Cup Final injury boost with ‘built differently’ verdict given

Hull KR are set for a surprise recall of one of their injured stars ahead of the Challenge Cup Final against Warrington Wolves with Willie Peters confirming that Micky McIlorum will be named to play.

Whether that means the veteran hooker actually does play on Saturday is still to be seen but it comes as a massive boost on cup final week for the Robins, with McIlorum one of the club’s longer-term injuries.

He, Rhyse Martin and Oliver Gildart were expected to be among those who would miss out with their respective injuries but the former Catalans and Wigan man could return despite rupturing a bicep less than two months ago.

McIlorum left the field injured against Wigan Warriors back on the 11th of April, with that game being the Robins’ sole defeat this season. It was believed that McIlorum would miss around three months but he’s in contention to be named just eight weeks and one day after the injury.

“He’ll be named,” Peters confirmed when asked about the hooker at today’s Challenge Cup Final media event.

“We’ll name him but the odds of him playing, I’m not sure yet. He’s got to get through a fair bit.”

Micky McIlorum in contention to make shock Hull KR return

It emerges as a major shock that McIlorum could even be in contention given that he required surgery on his bicep and had to rehab it with a recent update from Peters confirming “there’s no sort of game set for him at the moment”.

Speaking last Tuesday, he said: “We’ll see where he’s at over the next couple of weeks and then once he can start to filter back in, see how he passes the ball and then obviously contact and loads and things like that. So we’ll see where he’s at.”

By contrast, today he explained: “There was a possibility (he could return). The thing with Micky is he’s built differently. It still should be a while really so that’s why we’ve got to look at the pros and cons and weigh it all up and Micky will make a decision. There’s obviously risk and a lot of factors that we’ll need to look into.

“As I said he’s built different and as I say, we need to go through a lot of testing and decision-making, conversations and that before we decide.”

On whether he’d take McIlorum’s word if the hooker claimed he was fit, Peters pointed to the strong start that he and Jez Litten had to the season as he confirmed the club would consider the shock recall.

He explained: “There’s risk, there’s no doubt but I’ll take his word if he can take to the field. Him and Jez together are an important part of what we’ve done. He’s been there, he’s done it and he’s experienced. So if there’s an option for him to play we will look at the opportunity.”

Challenge Cup Final media duties are underway for our Robins 🎥🎙️#UpTheRobins 🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/zCfIsWedlN

— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) June 2, 2025