HULL KR supporters need to learn a new theme song because ‘give a little respect’ is surely obsolete after a series of stellar performances have put them solidly perched on top of Super League and into the Challenge Cup final.
Of course, the doubters will wait until the club lifts its first piece of silverware since 1985 before they concede that the Red Robins are the real deal, but Saturday’s composed and clinical demolition of Catalans Dragons surely proves beyond doubt that Willie Peters’ side is a class act.
Maybe it is the nervous tension that is the driving force for Rovers, the desperate anticipation of success that might never come; that makes Mikey Lewis play like he’s always on the edge of a razor blade and that produces that famous furrowed brow and manic stare on Peters’ face every time the TV cameras capture his image during games. Maybe it is that crushing weight of expectation that makes them crave respect, but haven’t they done enough already?
Saturday’s semi-final was a birdsong of red-breasted pride, with a nail-biting first half rounded off with a crescendo of high notes provided by late swoops for effervescent fullback Jack Broadbent and the rampaging winger Joe Burgess.
It had been an intriguing arm-wrestle in the first 40 with Catalans recovering from an early error from Guillermo Aispuro-Bichet and going behind 10-0 to two James Batchelor tries before the Dragons dragged themselves in front 12-10 with a double strike from Reimis Smith and Luke Keary.
Keary had been dominant in the first half, leaving RFL executives and broadcasters restless at the prospect of him winning man-of-the-match and being interviewed live on the BBC, but he was more subdued like the rest of his team-mates in the second period.
Lewis put the restart from Keary’s try out on the full, the only penalty sustained by Rovers in the entire match, which was referred to by a bemused Catalans coach Steve McNamara in the post-match presser.
No six-agains against the Robins, and a number of marginal calls which seemed to go the way of the opposition, was “nearly impossible” according to McNamara after admitting that Hull KR deserved to win.
It was a raw response from a coach who always backs his comments with facts but the interminable video referrals, many of which failed to shed any light upon events on the pitch, must have been excruciating for him.
The first half lasted 55 minutes and the second-half took so long the BBC ran out of time to interview the coaches.
The Catalans boss said pre-match that there needed to be three good performances in the game – one from each team and one from the officials – but he was clearly irked by the mismatched error count.
But how can you criticise a team for not being penalised? How can you disrespect how the Robins went about their business? Mac may have had issues with the referees but he had no problem with the result and gave his hometown club a great deal of respect.
“The best team won,” he said and Hull KR are quite clearly the best team in the game at the moment.
Peters’ obsessive will-to-win and attention to detail combined with his shrewd recruitment and tactical nous are a sheer joy to see manifest in the confident swagger of Magic Mike and rampant Rovers as they finished with a flourish on a colourful day out in York for Rugby League.
“We’re going to win the league, and are you going to believe us?” sang the Robins at the end and they might not have to wait that long until the trophy cupboard is dusted down and unlocked for the first time in 40 years.
For me, there’s no need to even wait for Wembley – ‘nuff respect’ already.
