WILL the two Hull clubs make the Super League top six this season?

I suspect that the best odds you could probably get from Betfred would be evens.

Hull KR look certain to be in the play-offs again this year after their remarkable treble success in 2025.

And Hull FC, who finished in seventh place in 2025, have strengthened considerably in the close season and must fancy their chances of rising by at least one place in the final Super League table.

When we had Hull KR chief executive Paul Lakin on the League Express Podcast recently, he suggested that Hull is the Rugby League capital of England. And when you look at the crowds the two clubs attract, it’s perfectly possible to accept that the description may be justified.

But in terms of performances on the field, it would be difficult to make the same claim, despite Hull KR having won the treble in 2025.

At the elite level, the Robins’ achievements in 2025 can be measured against Hull FC’s achievement of winning the Challenge Cup in 2016 and 2017.

At the time, that looked as though it could be the start of a Hull dynasty under their then coach Lee Radford, but the 2018 season saw the beginning of their slide into mediocrity, while Hull KR’s rise to the treble hadn’t yet begun.

In the Super League era it’s been very rare for both Hull teams to be contenders for major honours at the same time, unlike earlier times, like in 1980, when Hull KR beat their rivals 10-5 at Wembley, and those other occasions in the late 70s and 80s, when the two clubs faced each other in major finals.

They were as follows:
1979-80 BBC2 Floodlit Trophy Final: Hull FC 13–3 Hull KR
1979–80 Challenge Cup Final: Hull KR 10–5 Hull FC
1980–81 Premiership Final: Hull KR 11–7 Hull FC
1981–82 John Player Special Trophy Final: Hull FC 12–4 Hull KR
1984–85 Yorkshire Cup Final: Hull FC 29–12 Hull KR
1984–85 John Player Special Trophy Final: Hull KR 12–0 Hull FC

The score during that period was three-all at a time when there were far more competitions than there are today.

But it begs the question of whether we could expect to see once again a major final involving the two clubs, more than 40 years after the last one.

Could we see them walking out together at Old Trafford together, for example, in 2026?

I asked Betfred for the odds on that happening and was quoted a price of 16/1, which would be a very interesting bet for the fans of both clubs who like a flutter.

I suspect that a Hull derby would sell out Old Trafford just as it did for the Challenge Cup Final in 1980, when Wembley was full to its capacity of 95,000.

Given all that, it’s interesting to reflect on the fact that 30 years ago, when Super League was born, there were strong voices in the game, including the then RFL CEO Maurice Lindsay and some prominent ones in Hull, who suggested that the two Hull clubs should merge.

Admittedly, neither club was in Super League in 1996, but even so it’s remarkable to look back and see some of the comments 

“I’m convinced that a Super League club in Hull, supported by both sides of the city, would attract five figure crowds against Wigan and St Helens,” said then Hull Chairman Roy Waudby.

“In ten years’ time, the spectators would not even know about Hull FC and Hull KR.”

But perhaps an even more surprising advocate of a merger was the Hull KR icon Phil Lowe.

“All I ever wanted to do was play for Hull KR,” he said.

“I went to Australia for three years and when I came back all I wanted to do was play for them again. But I know that the future is for one club in the city. It’s a glorious opportunity and if we waste it because of our own petty-mindedness it would be a tragedy.”

Lowe claimed that backing from the council and finance from the League would allow the clubs to merge and build a new ground in neutral north Hull.

The only problem was that the idea was fiercely opposed by the fans of both clubs.

“I’ve supported Rovers for 35 years and if this comes off I wouldn’t have a team to support. I’d turn my back on Rugby League,” said Fred Hinds, the then Chairman of the Hull KR Action Group.

There were many other examples of the fans of both clubs expressing the same opinion.

Of course the fans were absolutely right. And since those early days of Super League they have grown in numbers for both clubs.

How different might it have been if Maurice Lindsay had been able to force through a merger?

None of us could know for sure, but I doubt whether we would be talking today about Hull being the capital city of British Rugby League.

Kangaroo stars and the World Cup

Two members of the Australian squad that contested the recent Ashes series – Mark Nawaqanitawase and Angus Crichton – have signed to play rugby union in 2027 in order to try to play for Australia in the World Cup that year.

What I find frustrating is the lack of any reference to the Rugby League World Cup that will be played in Australia later this year.

Even Rugby League journalists in Australia make no reference to it when discussing these two players. In their minds the only World Cup that exists is the rugby union version.

I’ve written a couple of articles in Rugby League World magazine’s January and February issues that point out the shortcomings in the Australians’ organisation of the World Cup.

It’s disappointing that they seem unable to grasp its importance.

Steve Brady

On Thursday I attended the former League Express journalist Steve Brady’s funeral in Burscough to say our final goodbyes.

It was a fitting occasion and I was pleased to see several other members of the Rugby League media in attendance to pay their respects.

My best wishes to Steve’s wife Denise and their children Daniel and Victoria, who told some wonderful stories about their father and his love for Rugby League.

Pat Cluskey

Another person who’s been doing it tough recently is Pat Cluskey, whose official title is Head of Delivery Professional Game Competitions at the Rugby Football League.

Pat is responsible for fixtures and other operational issues at the RFL.

Just over a week ago he suffered what appeared to be a stroke while on his way to work and has been in hospital since then.

I would like to send Pat my best wishes in the hope that he is on the way to making a full recovery and will soon be back at his desk.