We’re one month from the start of the Super League season with defending champions Hull KR set to open the season up, but what does their strongest XIII look like?
Hull KR will travel to face Super League new boys York Knights at the season opener on Thursday, 12th February with the Robins set for a turbulent first few weeks that include the World Club Challenge against Brisbane Broncos, as well as a trip to Las Vegas to take on Leeds Rhinos.
Willie Peters and his men are currently out in Tenerife on a warm-weather training camp, fine tuning their skills but also being put through their paces in what is known to be one of the most rigorous of any Super League pre-season.
But in a months time, they’ll be lining up at the LNER Community Stadium to start their title defence off, so we’ve looked at what the best possible Hull KR XIII could be for the opening round of the season.
How Hull KR could line up for round one of Super League
Full-back: Arthur Mourgue
No surprise at full-back with Frenchman Arthur Mourgue relatively unchallenged in his position as the club’s number one, despite Declan Murphy signing from Salford. Since arriving in early 2025, Mourgue has been one of the Robins’ top performers in attack.
Winger: Tom Davies
Signed from Catalans ahead of the 2025 season, few expected Davies to have such a strong season at Craven Park given his quiet 2024 campaign in France. Instead, Davies stepped up as one of the top wingers in Super League and was unlucky not to get an Ashes call-up.
Centre: Peta Hiku
Forgetting the handful of games he played at full-back when first arriving at Hull KR, Peta Hiku has been among the best in Super League for the past two seasons and he now heads into a contract year.
Centre: Oliver Gildart
Willie Peters seemed to settle the debate of who his first-choice left centre was when selecting Gildart for the play-off run and Grand Final so it seems likely the ex-Wigan man will start the season out in this role.
Winger: Joe Burgess
Burgess’ two years at Hull KR have seen him rack up 42 tries in 48 games, including in last year’s Grand Final when his late intercept score put the cherry on top of the win.
Stand-off: Mikey Lewis
The 2024 Man of Steel winner and Hull KR’s Grand Final hero will be pulling the strings against the club he spent time on loan at before cementing his spot at Craven Park.
Half-back: Tyrone May
May signed a new deal just days after the Challenge Cup success and he’s set for a third straight season with Rovers and likely another where he goes under the radar as one of Super League’s top halves.
Prop: Tom Amone
Arguably the biggest signing that Hull KR have made and one of the best if Amone can replicate the form that he showed with Leigh Leopards in 2024. That’s what Hull KR will be expecting with Amone signed to replace the retiring JWH.
Hooker: Jez Litten
Litten proved himself to be the best hooker in Super League last year and he was one of those to come out of the Ashes with credit as well.
Prop: Sauaso Sue
The veteran prop is set for another strong year with his powerful running making him one of the forces at prop in Super League.
Second-row: Dean Hadley
Hadley was unlucky to miss out on the Ashes squad but he’s highly valued by Willie Peters with the ex-Hull FC man likely to start ahead of Rhyse Martin.
Second-row: James Batchelor
One of those in the leadership at the club and yet another who was unfortunate to miss out on the Ashes squad. Batchelor continues to grow as one of the competition’s best second-rowers.
Loose forward: Elliot Minchella
Minchella will lock the pack for Hull KR in 2026 again but the addition of Karl Lawton, a versatile forward, could mean that his minutes are managed more.
Interchanges: Karl Lawton, Sam Luckley, Jai Whitbread, Rhyse Martin
As mentioned above, Lawton will play throughout the pack, spelling with Jez Litten but also captain Minchella. He’ll be joined by three other forwards with goal-kicker Martin and prop forwards Sam Luckley and Jai Whitbread also offering punch from the bench,
Check out the latest episode of The Serious About Rugby League Show on our YouTube channel here.
