Hull Kr beat Brisbane to win World Club Challenge after resisting thrilling comeback
hull kr withstood a ferocious second-half fightback from Brisbane Broncos to claim the World Club Challenge, holding on for a 30-24 victory that crowns the Robins world champions and underscores a remarkable recent rise. The result matters now because it hands Hull KR a place among the few English clubs ever to lift the trophy and delivers a dramatic night for 24, 000 fans at the MKM Stadium.
Hull Kr seize control in a stunning first half
The Super League champions stunned the NRL winners with an astonishing opening spell. Debutant Tom Amone, Elliot Minchella, Joe Burgess, Oliver Gildart and Peta Hiku crossed for tries as a relentless kicking game created repeated Brisbane errors and a 30-4 lead by the final quarter.
Mikey Lewis’s high balls and tactical kicking repeatedly put the Broncos under pressure, while Jez Litten’s work on the flanks and Tyrone May’s kicking plays set up crucial scores. Gehamat Shibasaki produced Brisbane’s only first-half reply, keeping the visitors within reach before the restart.
Late Brisbane surge leaves crowd breathless but fall short
The Broncos roared back after the interval, scoring four tries in 16 minutes through Patrick Carrigan, Deine Mariner, Shibasaki’s second and Kotoni Staggs. The swing reduced the deficit to a nervy margin and left the sell-out crowd watching a grandstand finish, but the Robins dug deep to preserve the lead.
Brisbane’s comeback showcased the same resilience that took them through three come-from-behind wins in the NRL finals last year, yet they could not quite close out the game. The exhausted Robins managed to hold firm as the clock wound down and the stadium fell into growing disbelief at the changing momentum.
Further details of late tactical shifts were not immediately available.
How the World Club Challenge works in practice
The match pits the reigning Super League champions against the NRL winners in a one-off contest that has been a regular feature since 1987. Practically, it is decided on a single game where early pressure, territorial kicking and error count often determine the outcome; Hull KR’s kicking forced turnovers that translated into scoreboard advantage early on, and Brisbane’s late sequence of tries demonstrated how quickly the balance can shift.
What this means for clubs, players and fans
The win delivers tangible consequences for multiple groups. Hull KR players and coaches now carry the status of world champions and the weight of expectation that comes with holding all four major titles, a rare achievement in the modern era. For Brisbane and their supporters, the match will be a bitter lesson in how a large early deficit can be nearly, but not completely, erased.
Matchgoers and the wider English game were also affected: 24, 000 fans inside MKM Stadium witnessed a rollercoaster of emotions, and the result gives Super League teams fresh ammunition to point to international competitiveness after a string of recent wins in the fixture.
Further details on club reactions and post-match plans were not immediately available.
The Robins’ triumph completes a remarkable chapter in their recent history and will shift focus back to their domestic responsibilities as they continue to defend their Super League crown.
