Parker and Brewster excited for Hull KR Women's cup clash

Hull KR Women’s Head Coach, Ben Parker and Co-Captain, Aaliyah Brewster have highlighted their excitement for the side to be featuring in the Betfred Women's Challenge Cup for the second consecutive season.

The Robins started the 2024 RFL Northern Championship season two weeks ago with a win over Salford and will look to take the positivity into their Women’s Challenge Cup campaign. Starting with Super league side, Huddersfield Giants Women on Saturday afternoon.

Saturday’s clash against the Giants will be a 12pm KO at the John Smith’s Stadium, preceding the Men’s First Team game against the same opposition.

Last year, Hull KR made their first appearance in the Women’s Challenge Cup, facing Super League Champions, York Valkyrie, Leigh Leopards and Barrow Raiders.

Following their Challenge Cup group exit, the Robins went on to secure important wins over Oulton Raidettes, Sheffield Eagles and Stanningley in an impressive end of season run.

Hull KR Women used the momentum to secure a Championship Treble, tying up the League Cup, League Leader’s Shield and the Championship Grand Final.

Now looking to the Robins’ opening Challenge Cup game against Huddersfield. Hull KR Women’s Head Coach, Ben Parker said: ‘We’re looking forward to it. It’s another opportunity to test ourselves against Super league opposition.

‘Their a team that’s had big off field changes this year. In terms of the structure behind their set up, being incorporated into the club and other things around that which will make a good challenge and an opportunity to see how far we are off the elite level of the game in this country.’

Hull KR Women secured a gritty 16-4 win over Salford in Round One with a double from Aaliyah Brewster and a try from Lois Brown. Parker noted the Women’s attitude as a key part of the win last time out: ‘Parts of our Round One performance (against Salford) was good.

‘We addressed the things after the game, the weather conditions limited what both teams were able to do with the ball in hand and defensively. The important part was it showed our character and our ability to dig in and grind out a win. To dig in and get the result is a credit to the Women.’

In the off-season, Huddersfield Giants Women awarded their first professional contracts as they came under the club’s banner for the first time. Parker outlined the similarities between the Robins and Huddersfield as the Women’s game continues to progress: ‘They’re doing things differently this year and they’ve come under the club’s banner.

‘I spoke with Huddersfield Women’s staff at the Challenge Cup launch event and some of the things they’re planning and what they’re doing is great for girl’s rugby in Huddersfield.

‘We’re already doing similar things ourselves. So to be able to follow that pathway, push into the top flight and establish ourselves as a Women’s Super League team is ultimately our goal and the way Huddersfield are approaching this is something we can look at and take things from.’

Lastly, Ben paid tribute to the Women’s Challenge Cup and the positive influence the competition had on his side last season: ‘The competition starts on Saturday and two teams out of those groups will make it to Wembley. Right now, that’s in our control.

‘The experiences we had last year drove us forward in the Championship and the League Cup. That’s not an option this year. The Challenge Cup is our only cup competition for 2024. These games in the Challenge Cup are an opportunity for us to express ourselves as the only championship side in our group who have not played in Super League or are currently in the top flight.’

‘To be invited back to play in the Women's Challenge Cup is a real honour, along with the Women’s Super League Nines competition. We see this as a huge positive, a great challenge and a sign the Women’s team is moving in the right direction.’

Now in her fourth full season with the Robins after coming through Hull KR Foundation’s pathways, Aaliyah Brewster noted her satisfaction with getting the win over Salford in Round One: ‘It was a tough game, conditions wise. The performance could have been better but we were happy to get the win in those conditions and kick off the season the right way.

‘It felt good to be back out there and we’ve addressed our issues of where we went wrong after the game. Rightly so, we reflected on our individual feedback and how we was as a team.

'I think that feedback will reflect on how we approach the week’s game and making sure we don’t make the same mistakes again.’

‘I think playing in these games with larger crowds, as part of the double headers, made the game feel more exciting. Overall, it was good to be back on the pitch with the ladies again.’

Ahead to Saturday’s Challenge Cup clash against Huddersfield Giants Women, Brewster is excited for the test against Super League opposition: ’I’m looking forward to it. I think it will be a good test of where we’re at and give us the chance to show the effort we’ve put in for pre-season and see how far we’ve come since the last time we played against a Super League team .

‘Regardless of who we play. We know where we've (Hull KR Women) come from. Going from our first season in the Championship to winning the Championship Treble shows the development we’ve made. Seeing the influence the girls coming through our pathways have made and improving our squad has been very good to see.

‘I think it will great to play against Super League calibre players on Saturday and see where we’re at as a team in our journey. It will gives us a better understanding of where we need to develop our game as we want to keep getting better.’