Hull KR are champions of the rugby league world for the first time in their history, after holding off a late rally from the NRL premiers Brisbane Broncos to win their inaugural World Club Challenge.

Bottom of Super League as recently as 2020 and on the brink of financial ruin at the turn of the century, Rovers have emerged as one of the sport’s premiere sides in recent years, culminating in an historic treble last year, their first major trophies for 40 years.

This, however, was altogether a far more remarkable achievement. Against a Brisbane side littered with world-class talent, Hull KR were near-faultless for an hour, moving into what looked like it would be an unassailable 30-6 lead.

But the Broncos scored four tries in the final quarter to leave it hanging by a thread with three minutes remaining.

However, the Super League champions hung on to be crowned world champions for the first time in their history, the third successive time an English team has won the World Club Challenge.

Rovers took full advantage of the early momentum behind them to break the deadlock. Mikey Lewis’ clever kick ricocheted into the arms of debutant Tom Amone, who touched down to give Arthur Mourgue a simple conversion to make it 6-0.

Incredibly, the Robins doubled that lead six minutes later as Lewis’ kicking game caused mayhem again. He forced Reece Walsh to drop a towering bomb and in the ensuing set the hosts held their nerve, with Jez Litten’s inch-perfect pass teeing up captain Elliot Minchella to break through.

Brisbane were stunned by the pace of Hull KR’s start, with the Robins pouncing on any error the NRL champions would make.

That proved true again as the half reached its midway point, with Kotoni Staggs’ knock-on being punished as Litten this time provided the decisive kick that punctured the Brisbane defence, with Joe Burgess touching down.

Mourgue converted all three and after producing a 25-minute passage of near perfection, the Super League champions led by 18 points and were good value for it. Brisbane simply had to score next to stand any chance of remaining in the contest and with half-time approaching, they finally managed to craft an opening that counted.

It came from the brilliance of Walsh. His half-break may have been stopped by the Rovers defence but on the following play, the Kangaroos international produced a magnificent cross-field kick that was patted back by Josiah Karap

ani into the arms of Gehamat Shibasaki. Adam Reynolds couldn’t convert though, leaving the Robins ahead by 14 at the end of a pulsating half.

The only complication for Rovers in that half was the loss of the outstanding Mourgue to a pectoral injury that ended his night prematurely. It meant Lewis had to move from half-back to full-back but in truth, it didn’t matter as the hosts went further ahead after the restart.

You felt the first try after half-time was crucial and once again, it was Hull KR’s kicking game that caused pandemonium for the NRL champions. Lewis’ towering kick was dropped by Deine Mariner, with Oliver Gildart the fortunate recipient to extend the Robins’ lead further.

It would then get even better. Yet again it was a kick that punctured the Brisbane defence, as Tyrone May’s clever boot was pinpoint accurate, allowing Peta Hiku to run on to the ball perfectly and score Rovers’ fifth. Rhyse Martin, kicking in the absence of Mourgue, converted both: and Hull KR led by a staggering 26 points going into the final quarter.

But what followed next was incredible. From nowhere, the Broncos came alive with three tries in just five minutes to set up a thrilling finale. Patrick Carrigan finished a sublime long-range break before from the resulting kick-off, Deine Mariner broke free to touch down.

That made it 30-16 and two minutes later, the deficit was down to just ten as Shibasaki scored his second thanks to an unbelievable pass from Walsh that split the Rovers defence. The Robins looked as though they had staved off any further tries thereafter – until with three minutes remaining, Brisbane caught them out wide allowing Kotoni Staggs to touch down.

But despite some frantic moments in the final stages, Hull KR held on to etch their names into rugby league history.