Hull KR celebrated a monumental achievement in rugby league, triumphing with an 8-6 victory over Warrington in the Betfred Challenge Cup final, a win that brought to an end a 40-year trophy drought for the club. Head coach Willie Peters maintained unwavering faith in his player Mikey Lewis, who was tasked with the crucial kick late in the match. Lewis’s successful conversion, emerging as the decisive moment, elicited raucous celebrations from the fans present at Wembley.

The fixture unfolded as a tense encounter, marked by a resilient Hull KR side that, despite being largely outplayed for substantial periods, found a way to claim glory. Peters noted the nail-biting tension leading up to Lewis's vital kick, saying, “That was probably the moment when I was the most calm.” Reflecting on Lewis's prowess, he added, “I felt really comfortable and confident when he had the ball in his hands because that was his moment.”

For much of the contest, it appeared Warrington, guided by the impressive Marc Sneyd, were poised to emerge victorious. The Rovers entered the final three minutes trailing by four points. However, a crucial try from Tom Davies, following an error by Warrington’s Aaron Lindop, levelled the scores, paving the way for Lewis's clinching kick. Peters commented on the match's gritty nature, stating, “It wasn’t the best performance but it was gritty, and that’s all you need in a Cup final.”

Conversely, for Warrington and head coach Sam Burgess, the outcome was a bitter disappointment. Burgess felt his team had played well enough to merit a win after having controlled much of the match. "You don’t always get what you deserve, and I don’t think we deserved to lose today,” he remarked. The coach chose to remain supportive of Lindop, who was embroiled in controversy over the awarding of the decisive try, and praised his potential. While the team has experienced challenges in Burgess's second season, languishing outside the Super League play-off positions, he expressed hope that the experience gained from this defeat would foster resilience and motivation for the remainder of the season.

This dramatic victory for Hull KR is particularly poignant given their previous heartbreak, having suffered a nail-biting 17-16 loss to Leigh Leopards in last year’s Challenge Cup final. That match witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions, culminating in a golden point extra time where Leigh's Lachlan Lam kicked the winning drop goal. The contrast between that heart-wrenching defeat and the triumphant atmosphere at Wembley on this occasion underscores the significant psychological victory for Hull KR.

Peters's confident leadership and the team's resilience were instrumental in this latest chapter of their storied history. As they bask in the glory of their achievement, Hull KR’s supporters, long-starved for silverware, can take pride in a squad that has proven its mettle under pressure, showcasing the grit characteristic of their East Hull roots.

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Source: Noah Wire Services