Domestic kings Hull KR out to conquer the world

The sensation of winning is an addictive one.

Whether it’s the fizz of champagne bubbling on the tongue, the feeling of completion mixed intoxicatingly with the ecstasy of achievement, or even the monetary rewards, those who have enjoyed success crave it greedily.

Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella is no exception.

In 2025, Minchella got his hands on all the prizes; the first Robin since the great Roger Millward to lift a Challenge Cup, the first since David Watkinson to raise the prize for securing the top-flight championship.

Winning Super League for the first time gives Rovers a crack at a trophy no Robin has ever won – the World Club Challenge.

Thursday’s showpiece against Australia’s National Rugby League premiers Brisbane Broncos will give Minchella and his team-mates the chance to box off their 2025 successes and earn the mantle of best club team in the world.

“St Helens, Leeds, Wigan and Bradford, to name just four, all won World Club Challenges and we want to remembered for winning this game,” Minchella told BBC Sport.

“No-one remembers a team that didn’t come out on the winning side. You remember the ones that won for years to come.

“That’s my thought process – I want to be part of a team that wins. I experienced that last year and this is the first opportunity for 2026.

Although there might be some in the west of the rugby league-mad city of Hull who swap their irregular black and white hoops for maroon, white and gold on Thursday night, the World Club Challenge tends to unite many fans behind the Super League representing the northern hemisphere game.

“It’s unique to play against a team not in your competition, teams you’re not used to if you like,” he added.

“In Super League you get to know your opposition when you play against them two or three times a season, so this is a completely unique situation.

“It’s the same for both teams; you do your homework on the opposition.

“These are games I watched as a kid, the World Club Challenges from yesteryear. You dream then of being involved in one someday, and here we are, getting the chance to play in one on Thursday.

Having dominated the competition in 2025, Hull KR’s start to life as champions can hardly be described as ideal preparation for the ominous meeting with NRL champions Brisbane.

The Robins let slip an 18-6 lead against newly-promoted York in their season opener to lose 19-18 and started the Super League campaign in defeat.

For head coach Willie Peters, it is a case of finding improvement and learnings, and a little inspiration, as they head into Thursday’s crunch encounter with the Broncos.

“The way York handled the game, coming up against a team who had just won the treble, they showed no fear,” he told BBC Radio Humberside.

“It didn’t matter who was in front of them, they just went after them.

Around 24,000 fans will get the opportunity to roar on Rovers in Thursday’s game, after Hull KR negotiated the use of the larger MKM Stadium, home of their fierce rivals Hull FC.

Craven Park’s much lower capacity would have left many fans locked out of the event, and stifled the club’s ability to generate revenue from a major showpiece.

So, Minchella and his team-mates have a unique situation whereby they will head for the home dressing room rather than the away facility, as well as running out to thousands of cheering voices rather than a chorus of boos and jeers.

They will also do so in a specially designed kit, which harks back to the Robins’ famous 1983 victory over a touring Queensland side which featured ‘The King’ Wally Lewis, later Wigan star Gene Miles and other Australia internationals such as Wally Fullerton-Smith and Bryan Niebling.

That Rovers side remains fondly recalled, with Robins forever favourites such George Fairburn, Gary Prohm, Mike Smith, John Dorahy, Watkinson, Mark Broadhurst and Phil Hogan among the ranks.

“We’re looking forward to pulling the shirt on,” Minchella added. “I’ve done some pictures with the kit and heard a lot of the story, the reasons why we’re wearing the shirt.

“You never forget the history is there, it’s in the books forever and for us to be able to represent those guys, our club and our community wearing the shirt is a great nod to them.

Brisbane arrived in England for a two-week visit last week, spending the first part of their trip in London, where they linked up with namesakes London Broncos as part of legend Darren Lockyer’s involvement in the capital.

The NRL champions then headed north to prepare for Thursday’s match, having put together an impressive squad.

Rugby league’s ‘Justin Bieber’ in the shape of dynamic full-back Reece Walsh spearheads the high-profile group, while powerful forwards such as Payne Haas and Patrick Carrigan offer the muscle to put Rovers under duress.

Peters will look to Arthur Mourgue, Oli Gildart, Peta Hiku and Mikey Lewis to provide the sparkle in response to the attacking gifts of Walsh, Kotoni Staggs, Ezra Mam and Gehemat Shibasaki.

Tom Amone, Jai Whitbread and Dean Hadley are among the packmen who will look to get at their Broncos counterparts.

“Us as a forward pack, we look forward to going up against theirs, and most games of rugby league are won in the middle, and the backs decide by how many,” Minchella said.

“So, it’ll be no different on Thursday. We’re testing ourselves against the best out there and we’re looking forward to the physical battle of the game, and going after it and embracing it.

Hull KR became only the fifth team to win Super League in achieving their 2025 dreams, likewise in terms of securing a treble.

While skill was at the heart of such success, mentality and mindset too are key for the Robins to continue to bring silverware to the red and white side of the River Hull.

“We’ve got a responsibility to put our best foot forward, we need to put together a ‘British’ performance, represent who we are and that’s East Hull as well,” Minchella maintained.

“It’s about having some grit and some toughness, doing that to the best of our ability.

“It’s something we’re good at as a team and it’s going to come out on the biggest stage – it needs to come out on the biggest stage.