Hull KR man compared to Ashes legends as Jon Wilkin highlights Grand Final game-changers

Pundit Jon Wilkin has highlighted two game-changing moments and two influential players who helped Hull KR win a maiden Super League Grand Final.

Hull KR became just the fifth team in Super League history to win the title and the first new name on the trophy in 21 years as they won 24-6 against Wigan Warriors in one of the most dominant Grand Final performances in recent memory.

The Robins overcame a wave of pressure early on but kicked on after Brad O’Neill’s sin bin with Man of the Match Mikey Lewis scoring the opener to settle any Hull KR nerves. They’d build on that and despite Wigan threatening a comeback, Hull KR kicked again as Jez Litten and Joe Burgess scored second half tries to confirm the win.

Assessing the game post-match on Sky Sports, Hull-born pundit Jon Wilkin said: “Two big moments, Mikey Lewis’ effort to stop Bevan French from grounding the ball and then Mikey Lewis breaking the game up and scoring the first try.”

He supported Lewis as the Rob Burrow award winner but went on to highlight Micky McIlorum and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves for their impact as new signings in 2025.

Wilkin said: “Those two moments are why Mikey Lewis is the best player on the field but I just want to talk about two people who were scrutinised at the start of the year – Micky McIlorum and JWH.”

McIlorum to go down in history with Ashes greats after Hull KR Grand Final win

McIlorum, who suffered a broken ankle in August and was still playing with that injury, started the game and will bow out on top but Wilkin hailed his grit to play in the game.

Willie Peters had hailed him as the ‘toughest player’ he had ever coached and confirmed post-match that he ‘shouldn’t have played’ as his ankle remained fractured. Having played through the pain, Jon Wilkin compared him to two Great British Lions legends, Vince Karalius and Alan Prescott, who both played through serious injuries to secure a famous win in Brisbane in 1958.

Wilkin explained: “Micky McIlorum’s first 20 minutes here tonight, we might not talk about it being all that memorable but history books will tell us, that’s Vince Karalius, that’s Alan Prescott.

“That’s a man playing with a broken leg in a Grand Final because it’s the right thing for his teammates. That’s what playing in a team is all about.”

As for Waerea-Hargreaves, who is also set to retire and will join a prestigious group of players to win Grand Finals on either side of the world, Wilkin claimed the Kiwi had his best game for Hull KR.

He argued: “JWH produced his best performance in a Hull KR shirt tonight and when Willie Peters signed him, he signed him for the 11th of October, not for the 14th of February, not for March, not for June, not for July, they signed him for tonight.”

Willie Peters hailed for Hull KR heroics

As for the man who masterminded, Willie Peters, Wilkin couldn’t offer any more praise.

He explained: “You’re a custodian of a shirt for a period of time and you want to leave it in a better place then when you took it and Willie Peters has exponentially accelerated where this club is at.

“His obsession with the game, his ruthless attention to detail, his ability to motivate, story-tell and get the best out of his team. He’s taken Hull KR from a very competitive team to almost untouchable in 2025.

“The quality of his coaching, I can’t emphasise how good he is.”

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