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How to tune into Sport NationWaerea-Hargreaves Bows Out a Champion
Ian Chadband, AAP • October 12th, 2025 2:31 pm
Hull KR's Tyrone May gets tip-tackled in the moment that changed the Super League grand final | Photo: AP
New Zealand enforcer Jared Waerea-Hargreaves bowed out of professional rugby league in perfect fashion, helping Hull KR to a famous 24-6 Super League grand final win over Wigan at Old Trafford, completing a rare trophy treble in his final match.
On an emotional night, the 36-year-old Kiwi delivered one of his finest performances, inspiring the Robins to their first Super League title, to go with the Challenge Cup and League Leaders’ Shield already secured this season.
“It’s all over,” smiled Waerea-Hargreaves, who feared he might miss the final after a high tackle, only for Rovers to successfully appeal.
“I’m doing it for my kids, I wanted them to see Dad, be proud of what he does. I absolutely love what I do. It’s been an amazing journey.”
The former Sydney Roosters prop, a three-time NRL premiership winner and veteran of over 30 tests for the Kiwis, was a dominant force up front as Hull KR outplayed world club champions Wigan in a commanding four-try display.
Coach Willie Peters, a former Wigan, Illawarra and South Sydney playmaker, further enhanced his glowing coaching reputation by leading Hull KR to the historic treble, a feat only four other clubs have ever achieved. Peters will now join Kevin Walters’ Kangaroos coaching staff for the upcoming Ashes series and is reportedly on the radar of several NRL clubs.
“They're all legends to me, we're the fifth team to do it,” beamed Peters, noting only one other Australian coach, Daniel Anderson (St Helens, 2006), had previously achieved the Super League treble.
But the Robins' joy came on a grim night for favourites Wigan, who were guilty of a host of mistakes, two of which came early when they had Hull KR rocking.
Bevan French, the Australian playmaker so often their hero, produced a dazzling inside pass that Liam Farrell should never have spilled with the line at his mercy.
Then it was French's turn to make a mess of getting on the end of a neat cross-field kick, failing to ground the ball over the line when under pressure from the electric Lewis, who lived up to Peters' demand for him to "own this grand final just like Reece Walsh did the week before."
He did just that, brilliantly slaloming through Wigan's undermanned ranks after Wigan's Brad O'Neill had been sin-binned for a tip-tackle on former Penrith NRL grand final winner Tyrone May.
"Mikey Lewis has arrived," declared Peters.
"I mean, in big moments, and it doesn't get bigger than a grand final. He owned that first half ... I'm so proud of him."
Joe Burgess, who had a brief spell in the NRL with the Sydney Roosters and Souths, went over for a score when Wigan were down to 12 too as Hull KR overcame early nerves to take control.
Despite Aussie Adam Keighran's long-range penalty just before the break, Wigan were well on the back foot and trailing 10-2 at the interval.
But they looked right back in it when their other Australian ace Jai Field, short-listed as one of Super League's players of the season, jinked his way into space and sent Harry Smith over, but Hull KR soon reasserted control as Jez Litten started and finished a slick attack.
Burgess then snapped up a late interception to swan-dive over, relieved to avoid becoming the first man ever to lose in five grand finals, and launch Rovers' celebrations for their first triumph in the Super League era.
