Hull KR Secure World Club Challenge Victory Against Brisbane Broncos
Tom Amone made an immediate impact for Hull Kingston Rovers, scoring just seven minutes into his debut.
Tries: Amone, Minchella, Burgess, Gildart, Hiku
Goals: Mourgue 2, Martin 3
Tries: Shibasaki 2, Carrigan, Mariner, Staggs
Goals: Reynolds 2
Hull Kingston Rovers overcame a fierce second-half resurgence by NRL champions Brisbane Broncos to claim the World Club Challenge title.
The reigning Super League champions, who have remarkably recovered from near extinction over the past 25 years to achieve a domestic treble, stunned the Australian side with an exceptional first-half performance.
Mikey Lewis's strategic kicking pressured the Broncos into multiple errors, enabling tries from debutant Tom Amone, Elliot Minchella, Joe Burgess, Oliver Gildart, and Peta Hiku. This offensive surge established a commanding 30-4 lead, with Gehamat Shibasaki scoring the Broncos' sole first-half try.
Brisbane Broncos, known for their resilience demonstrated by overcoming deficits three times during last year's NRL finals en route to the title, responded strongly in the second half. They scored four tries within 16 minutes through Patrick Carrigan, Deine Mariner, Shibasaki again, and Kotoni Staggs, as the 24,000 spectators at MKM Stadium watched in mounting astonishment.
Despite the intense pressure in the closing stages, the fatigued Robins managed to hold their lead, becoming only the sixth English club to win the World Club Challenge since it became a regular event in 1987.
Team Lineups
Hull KR: Mourgue; Davies, Hiku, Gildart, Burgess; Lewis, May; Sue, Litten, Amone, Hadley, Batchelor, Minchella.
Interchanges: Luckley, Whitbread, Martin, Lawton.
Brisbane Broncos: Walsh; Karapani, Staggs, Shibasaki, Mariner; Mam, Reynolds; Jensen, Paix, Haas, Gosiewski, Riki, Carrigan.
Interchanges: Hunt, Willison, Talty, Tawha.
