Hull KR hold off Warrington to secure historic first League Leaders’ Shield

Hull KR confirmed top spot in Super League and a first League Leaders’ Shield with a nerve-shredding victory over Warrington Wolves to complete the second leg of a possible domestic treble.

Willie Peters’ side have been the standout force in the competition this year but they have begun to stutter in recent weeks with the play-offs approaching. That was evident last week when they were well beaten by Wakefield, but they still knew a result of any kind here would be enough to secure first at the expense of Wigan Warriors.

However, it looked as though the battle for the League Leader’s Shield would go to the final night of the regular season for large stages here, as Warrington – out of playoff contention several weeks ago – took a shock 20-16 lead with 15 minutes remaining at a sold-out Craven Park courtesy of three tries in nine minutes.

That would have left Wigan needing a big, but not improbable, victory over Leeds on Friday to leapfrog the Robins at the summit, but Arthur Mourgue’s stunning long-range effort moved Rovers back in front before

The hosts began slowly here against a youthful Warrington side, with the visitors taking a deserved lead after Josh Thewlis claimed a Marc Sneyd kick to open the scoring. However, by half-time the Robins led 16-6, settling their early nerves with a wonderful try from Tyrone May, before two tries in seven minutes from Noah Booth.

At that stage, you felt the league leaders would see things out with minimal fuss. But Warrington responded magnificently, first when Sam Stone grounded a kick from teenage half-back Ewan Irwin to narrow the deficit. Then, five minutes later, Adam Holroyd’s try levelled the scores at stunned the home crowd into silence.

That silence then descended into near disbelief when Thewlis finished a wonderful move in the corner to put the Wolves back ahead. But Mourgue broke from deep to put Hull KR back in front before May’s second with four minutes left ensured there would be no upset, and move the Robins one step closer to an historic treble.