Mikey Lewis has come up against some of Brisbane Broncos’ stars before and knows his side will approach the World Club Challenge with “no fear” on Thursday night.
Hull KR take on Brisbane Broncos this Thursday, live on Sky Sports, to be crowned the best in the rugby league world in a battle of the Super League champions vs the NRL Premiers.
It is another slice of history the Robins are trying to capture after their treble in 2025, picking up the Grand Final, Challenge Cup, and League Leaders’ Shield across the season, becoming just the fifth team ever to win the competition.
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Highlights from the Super League clash between York Knights and Hull KR.
However, they know they will face some stiff competition from the Broncos, who have stars such as Reece Walsh, Pat Carrigan, and Ben Hunt on show.
Not only that, they head into it off the back of a shock loss to newly-promoted York Knights on the opening night of Super League 2026.
Walsh lit up the Ashes for Australia just a few months ago, in which England suffered a 3-0 drubbing, so Lewis knows to expect some brilliant rugby from their opposition.
He is hoping to take the lessons from the Ashes into this match.
“On hundred per cent, there are loads (of lessons). It doesn’t help when your head coach is an assistant coach on the Aussie team. He knows every player inside out. But like I say, it was a disappointing result of getting beat 3-0,” Lewis told Sky Sports.
“The moments, probably just the moments in games where they executed very well is a massive learning.
“For myself anyway, it is about when the opportunity presents itself just executing it and icing that chance like Reece (Walsh) did.
“We will be fully focused on ourselves. We have got a job to do and that is to lift that trophy and keep that trophy in England.
“So we will put our best foot forward and we will go out with a bang.”
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Watch as Broncos pull off a stunning comeback as Ben Hunt scores a last-minute heroics against Raiders.
Showing Super League’s worth
Whenever a Super League club takes part in the World Club Challenge, there is a feeling that they are not just representing their own club, but the competition as a whole.
Indeed, that went up a level since St Helens’ victory over Penrith Panthers in Australia in 2023 followed by Wigan beating them in England in 2024.
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St Helens beat Penrith Panthers to win the World Club Challenge in dramatic fashion with an extra-time golden point winning dropgoal!
Lewis remembers well just how big those moments were and knows if Hull KR can win and make it three for Super League in a row, it will only help grow the sport.
“Especially the St Helens one when they went over there and beat Penrith. It was huge for the Super League for the first team in years to go over there and do it,” he added.
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Highlights of Penrith Panthers up against St Helens in the World Club Challenge.
“Then obviously Wigan to beat Penrith again over here to keep the trophy, it builds your confidence about the calibre of players.
“It is about who performs on the day really. There has been a lot of talk around the Super League over the last year or so and we want to just put our best foot forward for the game over here and hopefully grow it.
“That is not just up north but all around the UK and get more people involved and grow the game.”
Passion, pride, execution
So, how exactly do Hull KR approach such a monumental moment in the club’s history.
With confidence, execution, and a pride in their jersey.
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Take a look as Hull KR celebrate their historic domestic treble with a bus parade around the city.
“I am excited, it is a bit of a dream coming true,” Lewis said.
“Watching it over the years, growing up, and getting the chance to play on that stage is going to be a massive and a proud moment for myself.
“I think we have just got to be confident. We have got, not just the skill-based players, but we play with a lot of passion.
“We have no fear now, especially after winning our first trophy last year in the Challenge Cup. We play with a lot of freedom and a structure that really suits us as a playing group.
“The lads will be feeling confident, and we’ve just got to play our own game, stick to our game plan that Willie (Peters) and the coaching staff will put together for us boys.
“It is about going out there and executing it like we did in the Grand Final.”
How can I watch?
The World Club Challenge is live from 6.30pm on Thursday February 19 on Sky Sports Mix and Sky Sports+.
The match then kicks-off at 7.30pm.
2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for
- World Club Challenge: Thu Feb 19: Hull KR vs Brisbane Broncos, 7:30pm (Sky Sports)
- Rugby League in Las Vegas: Sat Feb 28: Hull KR vs Leeds Rhinos, 11.30pm (Sky Sports)
- Super League’s 30th birthday: Thu Mar 26: Castleford Tigers vs Bradford Bulls, 8pm (Sky Sports)
- Rivals Round: April 3-April 5
- Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6:30 UK (Sky Sports)
- Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
- Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: skynews.com
