Hull Krop-head coach Willie Peters said he had never doubted that Mikey Lewis would land the stairs that ended for 40 years after he had viewed his side an exciting 8-6 Betfred Challenge Cup victory on Warrington.
Largely pronounced by a wire side orchestrated by the Imperious Marc Sneyd, Rovers looked like Wembley-Pijn, while the Underdogs entered the last three minutes with a four-point advantage.
But after Tom Davies stretched to touch Aaron Lindop after an error, it was left to Lewis-hands-handed kicking tasks in the absence of the Cup-bound Arthur Mourgue, to nail the two-Pointer that caused raw parties between the red and white hordes behind the post.
“That was probably the moment when I was the most calm,” Peters, who celebrated Wild with his players – many of whom were part of their painful 2023 Golden Point -defeat against Leigh – at the last Hooter less than a minute and a half after his side had closed back.
“It was a huge moment and I believed that he would get it because of the conviction he has in himself. He is not our number one kicker, but I felt really comfortable and confident when he had the ball in his hands because that was his moment.”
Peters did not hide from the fact that Rovers had been the second best for a large part of an Attrept competition in which Lewis’s early penalty seemed to give them a slim half-time lead before Josh Thewlis benefited from a scandalous Ricochet to lead his side.
Sneyd, who added an excellent two points from the touchline and ends the day by only becoming the second player who won the Lance Todd trophy for Man of the Match in the second half, continued to dominate after the break of Tyrone May led to the late, late drama.
“It was not the best performance, but it was gritty and that is all you need in a cup final,” added Peters. “You must have grit and you have to enjoy discomfort, and they certainly did that.
“They felt uncomfortable for long periods, Warrington kept throwing us at us and Marc Sneyd was exceptional, but we found a way and I am so proud of this playing field and the staff.
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“The way they won that match today shows the character and the type of players they are. It is in our DNA, it is who we are. East Hull people are grim, tough and resilient. We are not making anything easy, it was difficult, but we found a way.”
Defllated Warrington -head coach Sam Burgess said that he could no longer have asked on his side, who controlled most of the competition and was about to secure their first Wembley triumph since 2019.
Burgess, whose side was also defeated by Wigan in last year’s final, said: “You don’t always get what you earn and I don’t think we deserve to lose today.
“We have checked the game very well and implemented the plan. Unfortunately, these things can happen, we were on the wrong side of things today.”
Burgess refused to blame LINDOP, whose failure to settle the late kick of May in the right way, Davies left in for the decisive score.
Burgess gave some confusion about awarding the try, because repetitions showed that the Warrington wing player had roasted the ball with his stomach, but the RFL later clarified that earth with everything, but the hand is only allowed on an offensive game.
“I think he is a great young man,” Burgess said about Lindop. “He is a great player and he has such a bright future, so that’s what I think of Aaron. I absolutely love him.”
Burgess’ side has struggled for a large part of his second season and entered the game as heavy underdogs, roaring away outside the play-off places of the Super League in eighth place and the missing of Talismian Duo Danny Walker and Matty Ashton due to injury.
But Burgess said that as soon as the rough disappointment was relaxed, his players would take a lot of the opportunity that would hopefully cause a play-off push.
“We will continue – suffering and pain and loss and something like that is really crucial for our development and growth as a group and we certainly suffer at the moment,” he added.
“There is a lot of pain in it, but we will really take a positive thing out of it as a group. We have a lot of faith and it will give us the determination and determination to attack the second half of the season.”
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