Hull KR 18 Wakefield Trinity 31: Rovers are stunned as Wildcats roar back for victory

Trailing 18-6 at half-time – and with star man Danny Brough sin-binned it looked dire for the visitors.

But two quickfire tries in Brough's absence by the impressive Sam Obst and Matt Blaymire levelled the scores, before a full-strength Wakefield pulled away for a deserved 31-18 triumph.

Paul Cooke, who is expected to move on loan from Craven Park to Trinity next week, was not involved on the pitch but could have been forgiven for having second thoughts at the interval.

But he will have been impressed by the second-half revival sparked off by coach John Kear's half-time team talk.

Before the game, Cooke received a glowing tribute from Hull KR chairman Neil Hudgell.

Hudgell praised the former Hull FC player for the way he handled his controversial cross-city switch and helping establish the Robins as a Super League force.

"Over the last three years he has been subjected to persistent and often hostile attention totally disproportionate to the heinous "crime" he is supposed to have committed when crossing the river," said Hudgell.

"To his credit he has handled that far better than I ever thought he would. Whatever the short, medium or long term future holds for him, Paul can be credited with playing a big part in us surviving in 2007 and laying the platform for securing a licence and becoming an established Super League club."

Kear is keen to bring Cooke – who is out of contract at the end of the season – to Belle Vue and work with a player he knows well from their Hull FC days.

Speaking after the game, Kear said: "We'd love to have him (Cooke), but it's not a done deal yet.

"Negotiations are still ongoing but we're hoping to sort a deal which will to the advantage of both Hull KR and Wakefield."

Wakefield made a late change to their line-up, winger Damian Blanch being replaced by Dale Morton.

But it was Rovers who made the early breakthrough. Great footwork from Michael Dobson saw him trick his marker, before quick hands from Kris Welham allowed Liam Colbon to race away. Dobson added the conversion.

With the 52-0 thrashing by Huddersfield last week lingering in the memory, it was an early test of Wakefield's mental resolve and they answered in the best possible way as Shane Tronc drove over the line after good work from Tevita Leo-Latu. Danny Brough's conversion levelled the scores at 6-6.

A 19th-minute try from Jake Webster edged the home side back in front, after good work along the line helped to create an extra man for the Robins out wide.

And it was soon 16-6 when a Dobson kick rebounded kindly to Webster and Scott Murrell was on hand to gratefully accept the gift try before Dobson converted.

Welham's interception looked like bringing another Hull KR try after some good pressure from the visitors, until a tremendous tackle back from Morton halted the move.

But Brough was penalised for interference and sin binned, as Dobson kicked the resulting penalty to go in at half-time

18-6 ahead.

Amazingly, the 12 men of Trinity were level 10 minutes after the restart.

First Obst scrambled over for a try which he added the extras to,

before then kicking a hopeful ball which Blaymire refused to give up on and punished Rovers' players who stood off.

Obst's conversion made it 18-18 on Brough's return much to the surprise of the 8,004 crowd.

That surprise turned to utter disbelief for the Robins when Brough's high punt was clutched out of the air by Daryl Millard to score, as the Trinity scrum-half converted to lead 24-18.

Blaymire's drop goal stretched Wakefield's advantage before video replays judged Tronc had grounded the ball for a try which had the locals streaming out of Craven Park. Brough converted and looked to be on his way for another breakaway try but seemed to run out of legs in the final third as Rovers got tacklers back.

But it could not detract from an amazing Wakefield comeback which had seen them turn the game completely on its head.

Hull Kingston Rovers: Briscoe, Fox, Welham, Webster, Colbon, Murrell, Dobson, Clinton, Hodgson, Vella, Newton, Lovegrove, Galea. Substitutes: Fisher, Wheeldon, Watts, Cockayne.

Wakefield Trinity Wildcats: Blaymire, Morton, Gleeson, Millard, Murphy, Obst, Brough, Tronc, Leo-Latu, Moore, Ferguson, Demetrious, Morrison. Substitutes: Korkidas, Henderson, Davey, Gledhill.

Referee: J Child (Dewsbury).