Hull KR overpower Warrington to reach second straight Challenge Cup final

Hull KR did more than book a Wembley date. By racing into a 14-0 lead inside the opening 25 minutes and finishing with five tries in a 32-12 semi-final win over Warrington Wolves, the Challenge Cup holders gave their second straight final a sense of purpose and threat.

James Batchelor and Joe Burgess struck twice each, Mikey Lewis added three conversions and a penalty, and Oliver Gildart marked the start of the second half with a crucial try as Hull KR kept Warrington at arm’s length in Doncaster on Sunday, May 10, 2026. Ben Currie’s response briefly gave Wire a foothold, but Hull KR’s pace around the tackle and relentless defence never let the game settle. Sam Stone’s late try only reduced the margin after the outcome had long been decided.

The result sends Hull KR back to Wembley for a final against Wigan Warriors on Saturday, May 30, 2026, and the scale of the occasion is obvious. Hull KR ended a 40-year wait for major silverware by beating Warrington 8-6 in last year’s final, a victory that delivered their first Challenge Cup since 1980 and their first major trophy since the 1985 league title. Now they face the competition’s benchmark. Wigan are the most successful club in Challenge Cup history with 21 titles, a record that gives this final a sharper edge than a routine title defence.

What stood out in Hull KR’s semi-final was not only the scoreline but the manner of it. They were simply too hot for an injury-hit and below-par Warrington side to handle in the opening burst, and once they established control they kept building pressure through speed, structure and clean execution. Batchelor and Burgess both scored their second tries as the second half unfolded, underlining how difficult Hull KR are to contain when their attack begins to flow.

The Wembley final will again be part of the Challenge Cup Finals Day triple-header on May 30, with the men’s and women’s finals on the same card. For Hull KR, the question is no longer whether their rise is real. It is whether Willie Peters’s side can turn last year’s breakthrough into a lasting standard by beating the most decorated club in the sport.