Hull KR Challenge Cup final reaction: Ryan Hall 'proud' despite Wembley loss to Leigh Leopards

A dejected Ryan Hall after Hull KR's Wembley defeat. Picture by Allan McKenzie/SWpix.com.

Veteran winger Ryan Hall believes Saturday’s Challenge Cup final defeat could be the first of many big games for Hull KR.

The Robins were pipped 17-16 by Leigh Leopards in the first Wembley final to go into golden-point extra-time.

They had equalised in the last minute of the 80, through Brad Schneider’s conversion of a Matt Parcell try and Hall reckons that never-say-die spirit will stand them in good stead for the forthcoming play-offs.

“There’s six games left in Super League and we have got some fighting to do to get into the top-six,” said the former England man.

Hull KR fans wait for a crucial video ref decision with seconds left of normal time in the Challenge Cup final at Wembley. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com.

“It is going to take a big effort, but this team has stuck together all year and I know we will stick together now and hopefully we can get there in the end.”

There was a thin line between victory and defeat in an absorbing Wembley contest and that was no surprise to Hall.

He reflected: “I said all week it would be close and it was, with nothing separating us after 80 minutes.

“In that respect, we have got to be proud of what we have achieved. But it is still very raw and it will take some time to process.”

Hull KR players celebate Matt Parcell's try in the 79th minute of the Challenge Cup final against Leigh at Wembley. Picture by Will Palmer/SWpix.com.

Hall described the final, Hull KR’s first since 2015, as “an arm wrestle of a game”. He said: “There wasn’t too much open, flowing rugby that fans really like to see, but it was a proper tough territory battle.

“The ball was in play for quite a while and I think both sides were thinking the same thing, ‘we’ll kick it back to you and you come off your line, then you’ll try to do the same to us and it’s the first one to break’.

“There weren’t many breaks in play, it was a really tight scoreline and everyone’s exhausted because that is a really energy-sapping way to play the game.

“We feel that’s the way to play final football and they obviously do as well and they just managed to get the one-pointer at the end. It is hard to take.”