Paul Lakin embracing challenge of keeping Hull KR at top of wave of success

The Robins return to Wembley on Saturday for the third time in four years with every trophy in their possession.

As all-conquering head coach Willie Peters prepares to move on, the responsibility of sustaining KR's success increasingly falls to Lakin.

"I'm very conscious of the challenge of keeping us where we are," said the club's chief executive.

"I talk a lot about momentum. We've had a lot of positive momentum for three years now.

"My job is to keep us riding the wave for as long as possible. One thing you know in sport is that the wave will come down at some point.

"But when you're in this position, you really understand what culture is. What happens is that other people take it on. We have a leadership group of players who manage the dressing room now and everyone buys into it.

"At the same time, the appointment of the head coach is the most important position in the club."

Lakin's search for Peters' successor has entered the final stages but that process is on hold this weekend.

The Wembley date with Wigan Warriors is another chance for the Robins to show how far they have come since their first Challenge Cup final appearance under Peters in 2023 – a golden-point defeat to Leigh Leopards.

"We're far more experienced," said Lakin.

"In 2023, you could see a few of the players were a bit overawed by the whole occasion; we're now used to being in the big games and are world champions, too. It's really true what people say: you need to play in a few until you can really understand it.

"I saw the difference in how much more relaxed we were for last year's Grand Final than the year before.

"There's an expectancy now that we'll get to these big games."

Rovers swept the board after ending their 40-year trophy drought in last year's Wembley decider.

But that quadruple success has done nothing to diminish their appetite for silverware.

"We're no less keen to deliver this year," said Lakin. "Back-to-back would be incredible.

"There's been one trophy available this year, which a lot of people forget, and that was the World Club Challenge.

"We've won the first trophy and are super focused on getting the second one. We've got immense respect for Wigan because they know how to deliver in big games – but we do now.

"It's two teams that know what it's all about. I think it'll be a cracker."

This week’s build-up has inevitably been shaped by Peters' impending departure.

Lakin, though, insists the focus inside the camp is on something bigger than any individual.

"I haven't heard it talked about," he said.

"What we've been talking about is keeping what we've got. We're the holders.

"It took 45 years to get our hands on it and we don't want to let go of it. Equally, Wigan have held it many times and want to get their hands on it.

"It's not so much about Willie's last year. I sense that'll become more relevant towards the end of the season. At the moment, it's more about trying to keep hold of what we won last year."