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Hulls KR and FC in rare pole positions for derby showdown
The Guardian
|April 17, 2025
The city rivals' clash is never a tame affair but given what is at stake, their Good Friday meeting could be a cracker
Nestled at the western end of the M62, the city of Hull may sit on the very tip of British rugby league's geographical landscape but, right now, it is the epicentre of Super League.
Few cities are driven by a passion for rugby league quite like it. Both of the city's clubs - Hull FC and Hull KR - have enjoyed spells in the upper echelons of Super League over the past 30 years but not since the early 80s, long before the advent of summer rugby, was there a time when both East Riding clubs were simultaneously competing for honours.
Nobody in the city needs reminding about the importance of the traditional Good Friday meeting between the two sides but this season's derby has added gravitas, given top spot is at stake in Super League as Rovers and Hull sit first and second respectively after a quarter of an engrossing season.
Back in the early 80s, Roger Millward and Steve Norton led the Yorkshire clubs at the top of the game. This time, it is local talent such as Rovers' reigning Man of Steel, Mikey Lewis, and the New Zealand prop Herman Ese'ese, the best forward in Super League right now, who are the key players.
This story is from the April 17, 2025 edition of The Guardian.
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