Warrington Wolves 35 Hull KR 12: Ragged Robins end Willie Peters era on flat note as issues catch up with them

He was not wrong.

The defending champions' remarkable run under Peters came to a painful conclusion as their unconvincing regular season finally caught up with them.

Rovers had spent much of the campaign struggling to reproduce the brilliance that carried them to a magnificent treble last year.

There were flashes of the old Hull KR, particularly when they demolished Warrington Wolves in the Challenge Cup semi-final, but the consistency was missing.

They had one more chance to summon the big-game qualities that have defined Peters' reign.

This time, they could not.

There was no lack of effort but the control, composure and unrelenting intensity that underpinned their golden year simply deserted them.

This eliminator was their season in microcosm as indiscipline derailed their title defence.

Rovers were still in the tie when Peta Hiku saw red in the early stages of the second half, albeit in farcical circumstances following a forensic review of an innocuous incident.

Nevertheless, this was the ragged version of the Robins that this campaign will ultimately be remembered for.

There will be no Old Trafford swansong for Peters. The Australian had squeezed every last drop from his players over four extraordinary years. He transformed Hull KR from a club with potential into one that expects to compete for trophies – which is why a play-off defeat now feels like such a bitter disappointment.

Peters leaves with a legacy few coaches in Super League history can rival.

The Challenge Cup. The League Leaders' Shield. The Grand Final triumph. The World Club Challenge.

And, perhaps most importantly, a belief that Hull KR belong among the game's biggest clubs.

Peters' revolution is over. He leaves not merely as the coach who delivered unprecedented success but as the man who changed how the Robins see themselves.

None of that will provide much comfort to the 47-year-old in the immediate aftermath of a nightmare night at the Halliwell Jones Stadium.

While Rovers could point to Hiku's red card, they were a distant second best as Warrington booked a semi-final date with Leeds Rhinos at Headingley on Friday.

Matty Ashton stole the glory with a hat-trick but this was a game won in the middle.

It was a role reversal of the Doncaster semi-final. Where Rovers overwhelmed Warrington with their intensity that day, here they were dominated by their rivals.

Their cause was not helped by the loss of Tom Davies to a facial injury following a head clash with James Harrison inside the opening 90 seconds.

Rovers had an able replacement on the bench in Jack Broadbent but they carried their poor discipline from the regular season into the play-offs.

Warrington needed just one invitation, scoring from the first penalty conceded by the Robins. The hosts marched upfield and struck gold when Joe Burgess made a mess of George Williams' grubber kick and presented a gift to Ben Currie under the posts.

The departing Burgess continued his shaky start with an error from a tap 20, a moment that perfectly encapsulated the flow of the opening quarter.

Ewan Irwin's penalty pushed Warrington's lead out to 8-0, a scoreline that did not flatter the hosts.

Rovers enjoyed a reprieve when Ashton was denied by the video referee on the back of a Danny Walker 40/20 but there was little in the way of threat at the other end.

Burgess came closest for the visitors with a botched finish in the corner.

KR suffered another blow when captain Elliot Minchella hobbled off but they continued to stay in the fight, producing a last-ditch effort to deny Arron Lindop.

Then, out of nowhere, Rovers gave themselves hope. Broadbent found Arthur Mourgue with a brave pass close to his own line and the French full-back slalomed through the Wire defence before giving Burgess the chance to add the finishing touches to a sensational try.

Crucially, though, the Robins failed to make that moment of magic count. On the stroke of half-time, they were hit by the ultimate sucker punch when former player Kelepi Tanginoa broke into space and fired a pass out for Ashton to finish.

Irwin's missed conversion limited the damage but the 12-6 half-time scoreline flattered Rovers. They threatened to unravel when Hiku was given his marching orders for the softest of punches on Williams and Ashton scored from a clear forward pass almost immediately.

But Rovers dug deep to keep the dream alive. Karl Lawton somehow managed to deny Josh Thewlis with a foot before Dean Hadley crashed over on the back of a break by Burgess to turn up the heat on the Wire.

One loose pass from Tyrone May was all it took to release the pressure. James Bentley intercepted, raced upfield and Ashton cruised through the middle of KR's retreating defence on the next play.

There was no way back for Rovers when Williams sent Albert Hopoate over in the corner with a superb long pass.

Williams rubbed salt into the wounds with a drop goal before Toby King dealt the final blow to the well-beaten Robins.

Warrington Wolves: Thewlis, Hopoate, Lindop, King, Ashton, Williams, Irwin, Byrne, Walker, Harrison, Bentley, Stone, Currie. Substitutes: Hayes, Yates, Philbin, Tanginoa.

Tries: Currie (4), Ashton (40, 43, 60), Hopoate (64), King (79).

Goals: Irwin 5/7.

Drop goal: Williams (75).

Hull KR: Mourgue, Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess, Lewis, May, Sue, Litten, Hadley, Whitbread, Batchelor, Minchella. Substitutes: Amone, Broadbent, Luckley, Lawton.

Tries: Burgess (36), Hadley (53).

Goals: Mourgue 2/2.

Red card: Hiku (42).

Referee: Aaron Moore.