Hull KR see off St Helens to set up Super League Grand Final against Wigan

Hull KR proved to be too strong for St Helens in the second Super League playoff semi-final to set up a mouthwatering Grand Final with the reigning champions, Wigan Warriors, at Old Trafford next Saturday.

The competition’s top two will square off for the title after both came through intriguing semi-finals. While Wigan’s meeting with Leigh was always expected to be a tight affair, which proved to be the case, many expected Rovers to saunter through with minimal fuss against a Saints side who have struggled against Super League’s best in 2025.

It looked as though that would be the case at half-time, with Hull KR revitalised and refreshed from their week off and establishing an early 12-0 lead that could and should have been greater. However, Saints responded immediately after the break to halve the deficit with Deon Cross’s try to set up a nerve-shredding second half at times.

The old habits that have plagued Saints – they have not beaten his year’s top three of Hull KR, Wigan and Leigh since Easter last year – combined with the superiority of a Rovers side back on top form proved too strong. The visitors were unable to add any further points until it was too late and the Robins made them pay at the other end.

Two Oliver Gildart tries inside eight minutes settled the tie once and ensured it would be Rovers versus Wigan for the second successive year at Old Trafford. The Robins are hunting an historic treble having won the Challenge Cup and the League Leaders’ Shield and are a much stronger side than last year.

It appeared it would be a one-sided evening. Tries from Mikey Lewis and Joe Burgess helped make it 12-0 in favour of the Robins and such was their superiority, they would have probably been aggrieved not to have been even further ahead.

Joe Burgess scores Hull KR’s second try in the playoff semi-final against St Helens. Photograph: Richard Sellers/PA

When Cross touched down after the restart with their first foray into Hull KR territory, it felt as if the game was going to go down to the wire, just as the Saints’ dramatic win over Leeds did last Saturday. But as the game reached the closing stages the Robins regathered their composure.

Gildart claimed a Lewis kick to make it 16-6 before finishing a fine move eight minutes later to ensure Rovers’ passage through to the Grand Final. Harry Robertson’s late try briefly threatened a grandstand finale, but the hosts were able to close things out with minimal fuss.