With Hull KR on top of the world can Super League capitalise?

The best of one competition up against the best of another. You would think that would be a pretty even contest; however, that misses the context of rugby league.

In Australia, the NRL are the top dog- they have a huge salary cap, massive budgets, sporting stars recognised wherever they go, and a competition that is known country-wide.

Then, turn your attention to Super League. The clubs exist with around a third of the salary cap of their Australian compatriots, they are surrounded by massive football clubs that take the spotlight, and they fight at every turn for all the attention they get.

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Once again, after fighting to grab the spotlight, they made sure it stayed on them.

Somehow, with grit, desire, and determination, Hull KR raced ahead against the Broncos and held off what looked to be an incredible comeback to secure a 30-24 victory and become the fifth ever Super League team to win the World Club Challenge.

They were shattered, with only their heart carrying them over the line. The normally brash Mikey Lewis laid on the halfway line when the win was confirmed, taking it in.

Super League, when elevated into the limelight, usually delivers on their promise that they deserve their moment. Hull KR repaid on their promise in spades.

"It's an execution of big-game mentality. When Hull KR play well under Willie Peters they dominate possession, and they have certainly done that," said Sky Sports Rugby League's Jon Wilkin.

"We've seen an exceptional start and game plan that we've seen so many times from Willie Peters and Hull KR in how to win big games. They blew Brisbane Broncos away in the first 20 minutes."

One, two, three in a row

Remarkably, Hull KR are the third Super League team in a row to win the World Club Challenge. A seismic achievement.

First, St Helens made waves when they travelled over to face Penrith on Australian soil and beat them with a dramatic golden point drop goal. That sent a message: The Super League clubs have something to say.

Off the back of that, Penrith said 'OK then, this time we will come to you'. Wigan beat them in 2024 to hold the Grand Final, Challenge Cup, League Leaders' Shield, and World Club Challenge.

With the Panthers' reign over the NRL coming to an end, it was then the turn of the Broncos to try and prise the trophy away from England and take it on that 24-hour journey to the other side of the world.

Their head coach, Michael McGuire, knows all about Super League. He was in charge of an all-conquering Wigan side back in 2010.

His Broncos side are renowned for their comebacks, having won every game of their Finals from behind in 2025.

McGuire remarked that it was one comeback too many against the Robins.

They came close. They came incredibly close.

When Kotoni Staggs went over to bring the score to 30-24 with four minutes remaining, the sea of red in the stadium was on tenterhooks.

Somehow, when Brisbane knocked on with seconds on the clock despite looking like they were going to break through again, Hull KR had joined an elite club.

It was a World Club Challenge to remember.

Indeed, those Hull KR players were carrying the weight of the competition on their shoulders.

"It's unbelievable. That was one of the most exciting games I've ever been involved in." Jez Litten said.

"Everyone dug deep for each other. It was a pleasure to play with these lads against a team like that, scrambling the way we did, it was unbelievable.

"I'm proud to have done this for the English game. We always get a bit of stick off the Aussies, but we're proud over here. We play a strong brand of rugby, and this is about more than just us - it's for all of English rugby."

Turning a moment into a movement

The challenge now for Super League is how to turn a wave into a tsunami, to turn a moment into a movement, to turn a brief dalliance in the spotlight into a marked change for the sport.

Super League has had these moments before but capitalising is trickier. Something different this time, though, is that Hull KR now get to travel to Las Vegas to face Leeds Rhinos, where the eyes of the entire sport will be for a week.

They get to walk into NRL territory and say 'we just beat your champions, we can do it against your best'.

That is a statement in itself.

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters said they have a "responsibility" in Sin City to put on a show once again.

When St Helens beat Penrith in 2023, it was remarked that the victory was a monumental shift for British rugby league. It was in the sense that it put the onus back on the World Club Challenge.

Now, the challenge is to keep the pedestal high and the competition showing why it matters and what better place to do that than the Allegiant Stadium.

St Helens did their part and had their moment in the spotlight. Wigan Warriors did their part and had their moment in the spotlight. Hull KR did their part and had their moment in the spotlight.

Super League now need to harness that spotlight and turn it on themselves once again in a week's time.

2026 Super League - key dates and what to look out for

• Rugby League in Las Vegas: Sat Feb 28: Hull KR vs Leeds Rhinos, 11.30pm (Sky Sports)
• Super League's 30th birthday: Thu Mar 26: Castleford Tigers vs Bradford Bulls, 8pm (Sky Sports)
• Rivals Round: April 3-April 5
• Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30 UK (Sky Sports)
• Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
• Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
• Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
• Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
• Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.

Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season - including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+