For the first time in two decades, the Super League landscape has been shaken to its core. Hull KR’s historic triumph isn’t just a victory for the club—it’s a seismic shift that promises to redefine the entire competition. Gone are the days when Wigan Warriors, St Helens, or Leeds Rhinos monopolized the trophy cabinet. Hull KR’s rise as the first new champion since 2004—and only the fifth in Super League history—marks a watershed moment, not just for the Robins, but for every team daring to dream.
This isn’t merely about Hull KR’s 40-year trophy drought ending with a stunning treble in 2025. It’s about the doors they’ve smashed wide open for the rest of the league. And this is the part most people miss: their success comes at a pivotal moment for the Super League, which is expanding to 14 teams in 2026. With fresh faces joining the fray, the competition desperately needed a new narrative—a proof that dominance isn’t reserved for the old guard. Hull KR hasn’t just broken the mold; they’ve obliterated it with a Robin-shaped battering ram, proving that the glass ceiling can be shattered.
But here’s where it gets controversial: can this momentum last? Teams like Castleford, Catalans Dragons, Hull FC, Warrington, and Salford have all tasted Grand Final heartbreak before slipping back into mediocrity. This season, they finished in the bottom half. Hull KR’s triumph fuels hope that the expanded Super League will crown more new champions, but history suggests it’s easier said than done. Leigh Leopards’ third-place finish and Leeds’ resurgence from eighth to fourth show promise, but consistency remains the ultimate challenge.
Wakefield Trinity’s journey from the Championship to the Super League playoffs in 2025 is a testament to what’s possible. Yet, sustaining success is another battle entirely. Hull KR’s captain, Elliot Minchella, sums it up perfectly: ‘Your rent is due every day.’ No matter the accolades, complacency isn’t an option. With a long-term squad and the looming question of retaining coach Willie Peters—whose stock is skyrocketing—Hull KR’s biggest challenge might be staying hungry while everyone else is chasing them.
Peters’ immediate focus is the 2026 World Club Challenge against Brisbane Broncos, penciled in for February 20th. But regardless of that outcome, Hull KR is now a bona fide powerhouse in British rugby league. From finishing rock bottom in 2020 to dominating in 2025, players like Minchella and Grand Final hero Mikey Lewis have ushered in a new era. Suddenly, every club has reason to believe 2026 could be their year.
And the excitement doesn’t end here. Several Hull KR stars are tipped for Shaun Wane’s England squad for the Ashes this autumn, with Lewis almost guaranteed a spot. If England clinches the Ashes for the first time since 1970, it could propel rugby league to unprecedented heights in the UK, riding the wave of Hull KR’s domestic glory.
But here’s the question that divides fans: Is Hull KR’s success the start of a dynasty, or a fleeting moment of brilliance? Can the Super League sustain this newfound unpredictability, or will the old order reassert itself? Let’s debate—because one thing’s certain: the game has changed, and the future has never looked more thrilling.
