Hull KR: World Club challenges goal after local dominance

Around 24,000 fans will get the chance to cheer on Rovers in Thursday’s match, after Hull KR negotiated the use of the larger MKM Stadium, home of their fierce rivals Hull FC.

Craven Park’s much smaller capacity would have excluded many fans from the event, stifling the club’s ability to generate revenue from its major showpiece.

So, Minchella and his teammates are in the unique position of heading to their home locker room instead of an away facility, as well as running in front of thousands of cheering voices instead of a chorus of boos and jeers.

They will also do so in a specially designed kit, which harks back to the Robins’ famous 1983 victory over a touring Queensland side that included ‘The King’ Wally Lewis, later Wigan star Gene Miles and other Australian internationals such as Wally Fullerton-Smith and Brian Knippling.

This Rovers team is still fondly remembered, with eternal Robins favorites George Fairburn, Gary Broom, Mike Smith, John Dorahy, Watkinson, Mark Broadhurst and Phil Hogan among the ranks.

“We are looking forward to wearing the shirt,” Minchella added. “I took some pictures in the kit and heard a lot of the story, the reasons why we wore the shirt.

“Never forget that history is there, it’s in the books forever, and for us to be able to represent these guys, our club and our community wearing the shirt is a great nod to them.

“I hope people are proud to see us wearing that, and we can make them proud and make our history as a 2026 team.”