Hull KR fans wave off Wembley-bound heroes

Hull Kingston Rovers fans gathered at the club's Craven Park ground to wave off their heroes ahead of the Challenge Cup final in London.

The Robins will face Wigan Warriors in the match at Wembley on Saturday.

It is their second appearance in the final in as many years, having lifted the cup last season.

Players signed autographs and posed for pictures before boarding the bus.

Father and son Steve and Scott Marshall were among those enjoying the send-off.

Steve said he had supported the Robins for 53 years. He enjoyed success during the 1980s, before "obviously went on that bit of a demise".

He paid tribute to the club's owners, who had "put money into the club to keep us afloat".

"And now we've got that great community club.

"To enjoy them winning a trophy next to my lad [is] the icing on the cake for me."

Son Scott said supporting the team was in his blood.

"Seeing the kids nowadays in the shirts and things, it's just fantastic," he said.

"It's great for the club, great for the city, and long may it continue."

Another father and son, Alex and Josh Simm, said they were not nervous despite expecting "a tight game".

"Maybe two points, something like that. Might even be a drop goal," Alex said.

"It's the third time we've gone now," his son said.

"We lost the first time. We won the second time. So hopefully we can make it two out of three."

The Wembley win last season, after decades of missing out, meant "they won't have that monkey on the back any more", Josh added.

"They'll have the confidence, I think. We've been there, we've done that, we can do it again."

Sarah Clark was at Craven Park with her two children and said she would "never tire of going to Wembley".

"It's just the atmosphere and everything's brilliant. I just hope they enjoy it. I hope the players enjoy it as much as we do.

"It's just a family thing. We all come as a family and it's just really enjoyable."

Jake Law will travel down to Wembley again after attending the final last year. He also flew to Las Vegas for the club's Super League clash with Leeds Rhinos in February.

He described the Robins winning the Challenge Cup, the League Leaders' Shield and the Super League Grand Final last season as "surreal".

"This team's just different, isn't it," he said.

"What they did last season was incredible. I mean, there's only five teams that have done it, so to watch us do it, especially after like 10 years ago we was relegated, it's just crazy."

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