With the whole nation still buzzing from the morning´s brilliant Saints victory over the Penrith Panthers in the World Club Challenge, Hull KR and Wigan Warriors went into battle in round one of the Super League as they got their 2023 campaigns underway in Channel 4´s first televised Super League game of the year.
It was new coach Willie Peters first game in charge of the Robins, their supporters full of hope that this would be a new dawn as they took up the quest for silverware. With one successful season under his belt, including the Challenge Cup win, Matt Peet knows that 2023 is the year he will be judged on how well he challenges the St Helens monopoly.
It was a big Craven Park turnout and a great atmosphere.
Just three minutes had elapsed before KR opened their season´s scoring. Ryan Hall was on hand to take a simple pass and slide over after the Wigan defence failed to deal with a high kick to the corner. Lachlan Coote kicked a sensational touchline conversion to add the extras to a perfect start for the home side.
Wigan were on the board themselves on nine minutes with Liam Marshall collecting a Harry Smith chip to the corner for a walk in try down the left hand side. Smith was just wide with his conversion, the Warriors two points adrift.
On fifteen the visitors hit the front after a Dace Cust high ball was knocked back by Kai Pearce-Paul into the hands of Toby King who quickly passed to Jai Field to touch down in the corner. Smith was again off target, Wigan with their noses just in front.
The lead was extended on twenty-two, Pearce-Paul on hand to dab down a Cust grubber as the KR defence failed to deal with the bouncing ball. After the Robins had got off to a great start, the Warriors were now dominating. Smith was again wide with the boot, it was turning into a personal horror afternoon for the Warriors scrum-half.
Back-to-back set restarts gifted Rovers their second try, Shaun Kenny-Dowall taking the pass fifteen out, dummying to his winger Hall, before dropping the shoulder and going in. Coote was again on target from the touchline, KR back on level terms, a little against the run of play.
A great defensive effort from Hull KR, Bevan French dragged into touch, resulted in handbags from both sides but referee Kendall decided that a warning to the captains was adequate.
On thirty-six Mark Parcell had a try ruled out for a knock-on in the build-up but with two seconds left on the clock Jordan Abdull slipped into the pocket and took the pass to slot over a crucial drop goal to give his side a 13-12 half time lead.
After a great defensive stint the Rovers struck back on the counter-attack, Kane Linnett taking the ball at first receiver to crash through the defensive line and get the ball down. Coote was off target this time, a lifeline for Wigan who were still within a converted try of their hosts.
On fifty-five Coote kicked a penalty goal to extend the lead to seven points, this one from just fifteen metres out and two minutes later Morgan Smithies compounded Wigan´s problems when he raised the arm in a late tackle on the kicker, the Warriors reduced to twelve men for the next ten minutes.
Momentum was moving Rovers way on sixty-two with their fourth try as the ball was moved from right to left with James Batchelor finding Kenny-Dowall to step inside the winger and lunge for the line for his second. Mikey Lewis was just short with the conversion attempt.
Batchelor was held up over the line on sixty-seven and within a minute Warriors scored a length of the field try, Jake Wardle on hand to take the final pass, the Rovers defence on shreds, the debutant centre running in from fifty metres. Smith finally found the target and the lead was back down to five points as Wigan returned to thirteen men.
The game was won on seventy-four, Kenny-Dowall finding space wide to score his hat-trick try after a brilliant Batchelor one-on-one ball steal. Lewis was short and wide with the conversion attempt but Wigan weren´t coming back from a 27-18 deficit.
The Robins held their nerve after seeing their early lead overturned by a Wigan side who dominated large passages of play. Wigan played well, making a few early season mistakes, but nothing can be taken away from a strong performance by the home side who were thoroughly deserving of their opening win of the season.
Hull KR: Coote (3G), Ryan, Opacic, Kenny-Dowall (3T), Hall (T), Lewis, Abdull (DG), Sue, Parcell, Kennedy, Batchelor, Linnett (T), Minchella. Subs: King, Litten, Storton, Hadley. 18th Man: Halton.
Wigan Warriors: Field (T), French, King, Wardle (T), Marshall (T), Cust, Smith (G), Havard, Powell, Cooper, Pearce-Paul (T), Farrell, Smithies (SB on 57). Subs: Singleton, Byrne, Ellis, O´Neill. 18th Man: Isa.
Half-Time: 13-12.
Full-Time: 27-18.
Score Progression: 4-0, 6-0, 6-4, 6-8, 6-12, 10-12, 12-12, 13-12 : HT : 17-12, 19-12, (SB), 23-12, 23-16, 23-18, 27-18 : FT.
Lead Exchanges: Hull KR – Wigan – Square – Hull KR.
Referee: Chris Kendall.
