Hull KR no longer clinging to glorious history as new normal creates potentially exciting future
"Paradise", the song by Coldplay, was played over the tannoy before kick off at Hull Kingston Rovers on Friday night. The lyrics of that famous song could be heard loud and clear. "Lying underneath those stormy skies, she'd say, 'oh, I know the sun must set to rise'. This could be para-para-paradise."
What does paradise look like if you are a previously long-suffering Rovers fan? Packed stands? Winning game after game after game at the domestic game's elite level? Attracting one of Britain's greatest-ever bands to play at your stadium?
We might not be in paradise, but this is a special time. When the hooter went on Friday night, after the final game of the regular league season ahead of the play-offs, after Rovers had overcome Leeds Rhinos by a margin of 26-16, the club had secured its best finish in the Super League era. The last time they finished inside the top two at the end of a league campaign was in 1985. That season ended in Rovers being champions.
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That is glorious history. And, now, Hull KR being a force is no longer historical. Now the history books will forever show 2024 as Rovers being second in Super League. And it says a lot about where the club is at that there is no over-celebration. There is expectancy. This - Rovers flying high - feels normal now. And eyes are set on an even bigger prize. There is a Grand Final to aim for.
Perspective is needed too. Even as recently as the start of the year, following last season's fourth-placed finish, how would you have felt about a second-placed finish this time around? This is a management, playing group and staff that are doing special things.
Week after week, the stakes have been high, the pressure has been there. Losing many of these games would have had significant consequences. Take Friday night against Leeds, for example - a third-place finish would have been the result, an extra game to play, then the next step would have been a semi-final away from home. But they did not lose. And that outcome deserves recognition. Finishing in the top two has been raised as an issue over and over again in press conferences and they have done it.
Despite being depleted, they still had too much against a Leeds side who, in the first half certainly, looked in the mood. Although, it was not the best night for Rovers' talented halves, the moments still arrived, the points still flowed, the job was still done. Mikey Lewis was not on top form but - with assistant coach Brett Delaney offering a word or two, as he often does - the half-back still ended the night with pride intact and having delivered game-changing moments. And it was not just about him. Defend strongly, play physically, kick threateningly, chase hard and show alertness, and all those core skills can add up to deliver the desired result. This was not Rovers at their fluent and steely best - as would be expected with the players missing - but it was enough.
Hull KR's head coach Willie Peters was keeping the mood grounded in his press conference. There was no indulging of talk about how much of a career highlight this second-placed finish might be. This is a man with higher aims for this year, this is a club with higher aims for this year. What they are doing now as a club is not normal though. An all-time highest average attendance for a league campaign, being confirmed on Friday, was evidence of that.
To take the next steps, they will need to be better than they were on Friday. The week without a game will help after Peters chose to give certain players big minutes against Leeds. And it cannot be ignored that goal kicking is an issue still, although Lewis is in this position because he is deemed the best man currently available for it, ahead of Rhyse Martin's arrival next year. This talk cropped up before Warrington away though, and that ended in a memorable win. Elsewhere, having captain Elliot Minchella back would make a big difference too, despite the admirable efforts of Dean Hadley against Leeds filling in for the banned skipper.
One thing that was commendable though was how the team put the foot down in the second half, compared to the first. Peters had spoken in the lead-up to the game about the importance of putting the foot down even more, at this stage. In these special times, with this new chapter of history that is being written, now, more than ever this season, is the time to be driven.
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