Hull KR beat Brisbane Broncos 30-24 and held off a fierce late comeback at MKM Stadium.
It mattered because Super League’s champions beat the NRL’s champions, and Hull KR added the World Club Challenge to their major honors. The match also swung hard, from 30-4 to a one-score finish, in a way few at kickoff expected.
Match at a glance, the fast facts you want first
- Final score: Hull KR 30-24 Brisbane Broncos
- Venue: MKM Stadium (Hull)
- Halftime score: Hull KR 18-4
- Hull KR try scorers: Tom Amone, Elliot Minchella, Joe Burgess, Oliver Gildart, Peta Hiku
- Brisbane try scorers: Gehamat Shibasaki (2), Patrick Carrigan, Deine Mariner, Kotoni Staggs
- Key turning point: Hull KR led 30-4, then Brisbane scored four tries in 16 minutes
- Referee: Liam Moore
- Goal kicking note: Adam Reynolds missed three conversions, Hull KR’s kickers landed enough to make the gap hold
- Man of the match: Not officially listed in the match reports available, although Jez Litten drew plenty of praise
One quick stat that explains the first half control:
Hull KR completed 19 of 21 sets in the first half.
For background on how this fixture returned and why Hull hosted it at MKM Stadium, see BBC Sport’s report on the match being staged in Hull, World Club Challenge returns with Hull KR v Brisbane Broncos.
How Hull KR built a 30-4 lead with pressure, not luck
Hull KR didn’t win the early arm-wrestle by throwing the ball around. They won it by pinning Brisbane deep, then forcing messy exits. From there, the tries followed.
The pattern was clear. Mikey Lewis kept putting the ball in the air and landing it on the Broncos’ back three. At the same time, Hull KR’s chase line stayed connected. That meant every catch came with contact, and every error came with immediate punishment.
Brisbane also looked like a team shaking off rust. It was their first game since October, and the timing showed. A half-step late on kick pressure turns into a half-chance, and a half-chance turns into points at this level.
Hull KR’s middle also set the platform. Their carries got them to good kicking spots, and their line speed in defense made Brisbane work for every yard. The result was a scoreboard that got away quickly, and a game state that let the home side play on their terms for long stretches.
Mikey Lewis and the kicking plan that made Brisbane crack
Lewis’ best moments were repeatable. Nothing relied on a miracle offload. Instead, he served up contestable bombs and asked Brisbane to catch clean ball under heat.
Two examples stood out in the match flow:
- A high bomb forced Reece Walsh into a knock-on, which handed Hull KR prime territory and kept the pressure on.
- Another towering kick saw Deine Mariner spill it under the chase, again giving Hull KR the field position that turns into points.
Those errors didn’t happen in isolation. Hull KR’s chase met the catcher quickly, and Brisbane’s support runners were often late to the drop zone. Once that cycle starts, it’s like trying to carry water in a cracked bucket. You can do everything else right, but you still fall behind.
The Broncos spoke before the game about the standards needed for a one-off title match, and the build-up framed it as a serious test. NRL.com previewed that edge with Brisbane chasing redemption and wary of Hull KR’s confidence, Broncos seek redemption as world title fight looms large.
The tries that flipped the stadium early
Hull KR’s early scoring run came from pressure first, then execution second. The first half moved like this:
- Amone finished after a kick in behind, with Brisbane turned around near their line.
- Minchella struck through the middle after Hull KR built momentum with strong carries.
- Burgess scored after another well-placed kick created panic and a broken defensive picture.
- Brisbane replied when Shibasaki found space and finished, which briefly steadied them.
By halftime it was 18-4, and it felt fair. Hull KR owned territory, completed sets, and made Brisbane start too many plays from bad positions.
The Broncos comeback, and the 16 minutes that nearly stole the trophy
Brisbane didn’t fade quietly. After the break they lifted tempo, improved ruck speed, and played wider through Walsh and Reynolds. Hull KR, who had spent long spells defending their line in the second half, started to look heavy-legged.
Then the game flipped fast. Once Brisbane won quick play-the-balls, their edge runners finally got early ball. That pulled Hull KR’s line apart, and the match turned tense in a hurry.
When a comeback gets rolling, conversions stop being routine. They become everything.
The 16-minute swing, try-by-try timeline
- Carrigan powered over as Brisbane attacked the middle with more speed.
- Mariner finished out wide, with Brisbane finally stretching the defensive line.
- Shibasaki scored his second as the Broncos kept shifting the point of contact.
- Staggs crossed late to make it 30-24, and Reynolds’ missed conversion left Brisbane six down.
Hull KR had been up 30-4, so every Broncos try tightened the stadium. Noise turned into nerves, and every tackle started to feel like a final tackle.
Why Brisbane fell just short despite scoring five tries
The simplest answer is the early hole. Brisbane’s errors and poor exits handed Hull KR too many short fields, and the scoreboard punished them.
Kicking also mattered. Reynolds missing three conversions meant Brisbane needed one more try than the game suggested. In a one-score finish, that’s the difference between a last-minute shot at a draw and a last-minute heave that never comes.
Hull KR also had a wobble that almost opened the door. A late penalty that didn’t find touch invited Brisbane back into an attacking set. Still, Hull KR defended the finish, held their line, and closed out the last desperate phases.
Deciding moments and what the win means next
This Hull KR vs Brisbane World Club Challenge didn’t hinge on one highlight. It hinged on a handful of small wins that stacked up, then one last stand that held.
Three to five plays that decided Hull KR 30-24 Brisbane
- Goal kicking difference: Reynolds missed three conversions, and the gap stayed just out of reach.
- First half discipline: Hull KR’s 19 of 21 set completion kept Brisbane under constant stress.
- A spilled high ball that fed points: Brisbane’s back three errors gifted territory, and Hull KR cashed in.
- Hiku pushing it to 30-4: That score made Brisbane’s path brutally narrow.
- The final defensive stand after Staggs’ try: Hull KR absorbed the last wave and didn’t blink.
What this result says about Hull KR, Brisbane, and Super League vs NRL
Hull KR’s end of the story is simple. It’s a first World Club Challenge title, and it adds to a run of major success that now includes four big trophies in their recent haul. More than anything, they proved their style travels, because pressure, kicks, and defense translate anywhere.
Brisbane’s view will be sharper. The fightback showed pride and threat, yet the early mistakes set a trap they couldn’t escape. One-off matches don’t care about form lines. They punish poor minutes, especially when they come in clusters.
For the wider Super League vs NRL debate, this was another reminder that the gap isn’t decided by reputation. It’s decided by who controls the basics under stress, and Hull KR did that for long enough.
Standout performers who shaped the night
Hull KR had several strong contributions, yet three areas stood out.
Mikey Lewis set the tone with his kicking game and repeat pressure. His bombs forced the kind of handling errors that change field position without taking a risky pass.
Elliot Minchella’s work through the middle helped Hull KR play on the front foot in the first half. That mattered because it kept Lewis kicking from good spots.
Jez Litten’s service and energy around the ruck helped Hull KR keep tempo when the game threatened to tilt. He also stayed involved late, when fatigue usually breaks structure.
For Brisbane, Walsh looked most dangerous when the ruck speed improved, because his support play thrives on broken fields. Carrigan also dragged them back into the contest with direct running and tough carries.
What’s next for Hull KR and Brisbane
Hull KR return to domestic focus with a confidence boost and a clear template. If they defend like that and kick like that, they’ll travel well.
Brisbane fly home with a hard lesson. Their best spell showed their ceiling, yet they can’t spot elite opponents a 26-point head start and expect to finish on top.
FAQs
What was the World Club Challenge result?
The World Club Challenge result was Hull KR 30-24 Brisbane Broncos at MKM Stadium.
What is the World Club Challenge?
It’s a one-off match between the champions of Super League and the NRL to decide a world club champion. The official match listing sits on NRL.com’s World Club Challenge match center.
Who scored Hull KR’s tries?
Tom Amone, Elliot Minchella, Joe Burgess, Oliver Gildart, and Peta Hiku.
Who scored for Brisbane?
Gehamat Shibasaki scored twice, with tries from Patrick Carrigan, Deine Mariner, and Kotoni Staggs.
Was Jez Litten man of the match?
No official award was listed in the match reports available. Still, the phrase Jez Litten man of the match came up in fan reaction because of his impact.
How did Brisbane nearly pull off the comeback?
They lifted tempo after halftime, won faster ruck speed, and attacked wider. However, missed conversions and early errors left them short.
Conclusion
Hull KR’s first half blitz built the margin, then Brisbane’s near miracle comeback tested every tackle late. In the end, missed conversions and a last defensive stand decided it. Hull KR win World Club Challenge honors the hard way, and KR’s name now sits on the trophy.
Sources: BBC Sport match report; World Club Challenge competition context via NRL match center.
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