As It Happened: Robins secure hard earned win over St. Helens

The Robins secured a 26-14 win over St. Helens, their first since 2015, with a gutsy display in the rain at Sewell Group Craven Park. Here's Friday night under the lights, as it happened...

The Teams - Hull KR

New signing Corey Hall makes his first appearance in Hull KR's 21-man squad while Sauaso Sue (2 match penalty notice) and James Batchelor (1 match penalty notice) both miss out after the pair picked up bans from the Robins' 40-0 win over Hull FC last Friday.

There are four changes to the Saints' squad that Paul Wellens named for the game against Wigan. Sione Mata’utia misses out due to head injury protocols while Morgan Knowles was referred to an independent tribunal on Tuesday night that issued a five-match suspension meaning he is unavailable for selection, as are Curtis Sironen and Agnatius Paasi who miss out due to injury. Coming into the squad are Lewis Baxter, Dan Hill, McKenzie Buckley, and Wesley Bruines.

The Fans

The Music

Craven Streat will be open from 5pm and will be hosting a variety of street food and local drink vendors! Turnstiles for all stands will be open from 6.30pm so, to get into Craven Streat before then, please enter through the turnstiles in the South West corner of the stadium.

On stage, we will be joined by DJ Ben Shepherd before and after the game. We will have live music from local band, Breeze from 6.50pm and Hull KR Foundation will be performing at 6.45pm before their usual pre-match performance on the pitch.

Join us at the giant deck chair for a player meet and greet with the fans from 6.50pm.

The Official Merchandise unit will be open from 5pm stocking our new ranges and all spring essentials. Keep an eye out for our new Matchday Offers where you can pick up a hand waving flag for just £5 and a scarf for just £10!

The News

In case you missed it, Hull KR are delighted to confirm Dean Hadley has signed a new two-year extension with the club until he end of the 2025 season.

Hadley has already made 54 appearances for the Robins, scoring 4 tries and making 154 Super League appearances in total since his debut against Catalans Dragons in 2013.

The 30 year-old has become a mainstay in Peters’ side this year, playing across the Robins’ pack. Hadley has become a fans’ favourite during his time in East Hull having first joined the Robins in 2019 from local rivals, Hull FC.

Watch Dean's reaction below!

Squad News

Corey Hall makes his debut for the Robins at centre while SKD moves out to the wing with Ryan Hall, Tom Opacic and Lachlan Coote completing the backline. Fresh off his new two-year extension, Dean Hadley starts in the second-row!

For Saints, Jon Bennison is on the wing and LMS starts at prop as part of the move around while Bell is in at loose forward in the place of the suspended, Morgan Knowles and Mark Percival moves to the back-row.

The Game

KICK OFF: Jordan Abdull gets the game underway kicking deep into the Saints half! Come on the boys

4' After a couple of good defensive sets, the Robins are now on the attack in the Saints half!

6' Corey Hall takes his first drive in for the Robins as KR restart following a deep kick into touch from Saints. Still neck and neck.

7' Out on the full. Abdull's hanging bomb goes out on the full and KR turnover on their 40. Big set needed in defence.

8' Lomax forces a pass to Hurrell and Saints knock on.

10' SIX AGAIN. Robins turn up the intensity in attack!

11' KNOCK ON! LMS spills the ball in contact. KR get the scrum on halfway!

13' Robins spread it from the left to the right but Kennedy knocks on. Saints ball on their own 10.

14' Coote takes in Lomax's bomb. SKD gets the Robins to the 20.

15' Try for St. Helens. Lomax finishes a breakaway try for the visitors. Frustrating passage of play for the Robins.

Percival converts. (1/1)

Hull KR 0 - 6 St. Helens

18' Penalty to Saints. Lomax is pushed off the ball as Saints look for a gap and the Robins are penalised.

20' GREAT TACKLE! SKD and Opacic take Bennison into touch and stop a certain try.

21' Interchange. Luckley comes on for King. Good opening stint from the Irishman.

23' Good set from the Robins in defence. In back play Storton comes on for Kennedy.

24' GLDO. Inventive kick from Lewis forces Saints to tap the ball dead. Luckley takes the ball in from halfway!

26' TRYYYYYYYY! The Robins spread the ball out to the left, and Mikey Lewis dummies and goes to score the try!

Coote adds the two! (1/1)

Hull KR 6 - 6 St. Helens

28' Good set from the Robins. Lewis' kick pins Saints on their 10.

30' GLDO. Abdull stops a certain try knocking Makinson's kick dead. Big moment for the Robins but they survive. Saints attack.

31' GLDO. Hall shepherds the ball dead but touches it before it crosses the line. KR back under pressure.

32' PENALTY! Patience from Coote as he sees the ball dead. The full back attacks from the 20 and gets a penalty for a high tackle.

33' Penalty to Saints. Luckley is called offside and the pressure is back on KR.

34' Saints opt to take the two.

Percival converts. (2/2)

Hull KR 6 - 8 St. Helens

37' PENALTY! Dean Hadley is caught high and the Robins kick upfield to get the attack going!

38' SIN BIN! Another high shot from Saints, this time from Matty Lees and he's sent to the sin bin.

40' The Robins choose to take the two.

Coote slots it over from 35 metres! (2/2)

Hull KR 8 - 8 St. Helens

The boys are back out for the second half!

40' Lussick gets the second half underway and Sam Luckley takes in the first drive.

42' KNOCK ON! Minchella forces the knock on from Percival.

43' PENALTY! High tackle from Saints and the Robins go from their opponents 20.

44' Close. Ryan Hall can't take in Corey Hall's flick on. Robins almost score in the corner.

48' TRYYYYYYYY!! Matt Parcell grubbers through a neat little kick and Mikey Lewis races through to be the first one there to ground the ball!

Coote adds the conversion! (3/3)

Hull KR 14 - 8 St. Helens

52' Interchange. George King returns in place of Sam Luckley. A top stint from the Geordie.

55' Interchange. Litten and Halton come on for Parcell and Storton.

56' Tackle! Coote nails Makinson after chasing down Abdull's kick. Solid chase from the Robins.

58' Penalty to Saints. Tackle off the ball from KR and the hosts let the visitors off as they start their next set on halfway.

59' KNOCK ON! Scratch that...the Robins force an error at the play the ball! COME ON BOYS.

59' TRYYYYYYYY!! The Robins spread the ball on the last and Corey Hall does brilliant to keep the ball alive and Abdull finds Coote to go over!

Hull KR 20 - 8 St. Helens

Coote adds the extras! (4/4)

62' Interchange. Parcell back on for Minchella. A great stint from the Robins number 13.

63' PENALTY! Lachlan Coote is caught late and the Robins can now attack in the Saints’ half!

67' TRYYYYYYYYY! It looked like the Robins were setting up for the one pointer, but instead, Matt Parcell grubbers through and Jez Litten dives on the ball to score!

Coote slots over the two! (5/5)

Hull KR 26 - 8 St. Helens

69' Saints get the ball back after going short at the kick off and the Robins are penalised for offside.

71' Another penalty for Saints after the Robins are offside from the scrum.

72' Try for Saints. Lussick barges over under the posts after back to back sets on the Robins line.

Percival converts. (3/3)

Hull KR 26 - 14 St. Helens

75' Interchange. Luckley comes on for King. Huge second stint from the prop!

75' Knock on by the Robins and Saints have the ball on half way.

77' Penalty for Saints. They now attack the Robins line.

78' BRILLIANT DEFENCE! Huge defence from the left edge see the Robins keep Saints out!

80' KNOCK ON! Abdull goes short and Saints can't handle the ball!

Final Thoughts

The Robins showed great grit to see off the World Champions with the hosts taking decisive moments in attack for Mikey Lewis to score a double and Lachlan Coote and Jez Litten to grab a try with the latter also celebrating an England call-up from Shaun Wane. The Robins will look to solidify their top four credentials before the international break in late April as they head out on the road to face Castleford next Friday. Get your tickets for that game here!

The Fans’ Reaction