Hull KR 28 Warrington Wolves 20: Rovers secure League Leaders' Shield in dramatic fashion at Craven Park
There is something about Warrington Wolves that tests Hull KR's mettle.
Rovers clung on for dear life against the Wire to reach a maiden Grand Final 12 months ago and won the Challenge Cup in the most dramatic of circumstances earlier this year.
This time was meant to be different, yet once again the Robins were made to sweat by Sam Burgess’ side.
Willie Peters' men have been the best team in Super League this season but that went out of the window against a Warrington outfit that pulled a committed performance from nowhere.
In the end, KR found enough composure to claim a maiden League Leaders' Shield and a second trophy of 2025 – and nobody will remember the finer details years from now.
But boy did they make hard work of it in a final-round fixture that swung in frenzied fashion until Arthur Mourgue produced a solo try for the ages to deliver the moment the home fans craved.
Rovers will need to be better to complete a historic treble but they have two weeks to worry about that.
For now, they can bask in the glory of a first-ever league and cup double.
Craven Park has never had it so good.
In the space of only a few months, Hull KR have won two trophies after waiting four decades for just one.
The Craven Park faithful have experienced more lows than highs since the gates opened in 1989 but can now finally say they are the best team in England once more.
The difference from 40 years ago? This time, there is still work to do before they are crowned champions.
However, topping the table at the end of 27 rounds is an achievement that cannot be understated.
The League Leaders' Shield has felt like Hull KR's to lose since a blistering start to the year but that narrative does a disservice to Peters' side.
Make no mistake, they have had to earn top spot in the face of a late charge from defending champions Wigan Warriors.
KR's form has dipped in the closing stages of the regular season but they now have 16 days to recharge ahead of a home semi-final.
If Thursday night proved anything, it is that a second Grand Final will not come easily.
Shorn of a whole host of senior figures and seemingly wishing the days away after a run of seven defeats in eight games, Warrington heightened the early tension inside Craven Park with an inspired start.
Danny Walker had already kicked a 40/20 when Josh Thewlis silenced the home crowd six minutes in.
Noah Booth and Mourgue left Marc Sneyd's lofted kick to one another, allowing Thewlis to steal in for a gift of a try.
But for an obstruction call in their favour on the back of another Walker 40/20, a jittery start may have turned into a nightmare for Rovers.
As it was, the video referee denied Cai Taylor-Wray and the Robins slowly settled into the contest.
Errors crept into Warrington's game and Peters' team were good enough to take advantage.
After Tyrone May ghosted over to get the Robins up and running, Booth scored a double before half-time with the help of Oliver Gildart to seemingly leave the hosts on the brink.
But ask anybody of a Hull KR persuasion and they would tell you that nothing is ever handed to them.
What seemed like a minor setback when Mourgue had a try ruled out for a double movement quickly developed into a crucial moment as Warrington produced a remarkable fightback to turn the game on its head.
Sam Stone finished Ewan Irwin's grubber kick to give the Wolves hope before Adam Holroyd steamed over from a flat pass in a barely believable turn of events.
When Thewlis finished acrobatically in the corner on the back of a burst by makeshift centre Matt Dufty, KR's worst fears were quickly becoming a reality.
But just as the game appeared to be slipping away from the Robins, Mourgue stepped up to announce himself as a Craven Park hero.
There was nothing on when the French full-back collected Sneyd's high kick 15 metres from his own line but he evaded the chasers through sheer determination before beating Taylor-Wray to the line in a thrilling footrace to spark wild scenes.
Mercifully for the home supporters who had already gone through the full range of emotions, there would be no final twist.
May made sure of a landmark victory in the dying minutes after spinning around in circles and somehow finding a hole in the Warrington defence, a try that perfectly encapsulated a madcap 80 minutes that ended in glory for the Rovers.
Hull KR: Mourgue, Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Booth, Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Waerea-Hargreaves, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella. Substitutes: Luckley, Whitbread, Martin, Broadbent.
Tries: May (22, 76), Booth (33, 40), Mourgue (68).
Goals: Martin 4/5.
Warrington Wolves: Taylor-Wray, Thewlis, King, Dufty, Thewlis, Irwin, Sneyd, Philbin, Walker, Thomas, Stone, Holroyd, Matterson. Substitutes: Powell, Green, McKinney, Wood.
Tries: Josh Thewlis (6, 61), Stone (50), Holroyd (55).
Goals: Sneyd 2/4.
Referee: Aaron Moore.