Influential players had retired at the end of 2023, as Kane Linnett and Shaun Kenny-Dowall called it a day as players, with the latter going on to join Rovers’ coaching team. Meanwhile, Jordan Abdull being sent to Catalans Dragons meant that there was a need for kicking skills to be exhibited from elsewhere.

Former Robins player Danny Ward joined the coaching staff after impressing previously as a head coach in Super League. And the incoming players transformed the backs as Peta Hiku, Niall Evalds, Joe Burgess and Oliver Gildart were all brought in, with Tyrone May adding class in the halves. Two forwards were recruited from struggling Wakefield – Jai Whitbread and Kelepi Tanginoa – and the usefulness of that would become clear as the year went on. Half-back Mikey Lewis had been retained at the club, on a five-year deal, and the importance of that was also going to be shown, and in spectacular style. Relative lack of opportunities for promising young players would continue though, as Rovers strove for success in the here and now.

Hiku was arguably the most exciting signing and he was intended at the start to be full-back and goal-kicker. How times change. As the year went on, he would revert to centre and Peters felt he could have been in the Dream Team there, while Lewis was the man who ended up on goal-kicking duties, a problem area for the club, that they would later remedy by signing Rhyse Martin for 2025.

Rovers had made a positive start to their 2023 campaign by winning Peters’ first Super League game in charge of the club by 27-18 at home against Wigan Warriors – and they wanted another fast start in 2024, which they got against Hull FC. The Robins secured a 22-0 away win against their cross-city rivals, with tries from new boys Evalds and Tanginoa getting the season up and running within the first 20 minutes. It was to be the first of three victories over Hull FC in 2024, as the Robins completed a clean sweep of wins against the Black and Whites in the calendar year by also winning 34-10 and 24-10 against them later in the season.

News of Peters receiving a contract extension came the following week though, with it being a four-year deal, highlighting the faith the club had in him, and the way that the bigger picture was being looked at. Rovers were in fifth place at the time. Another set-back followed though, as they made a slow start in their Cup semi-final against Wigan and lost 38-6.

A promising upturn followed, as Hull KR began to emerge as serious challengers for a top-two finish, which they knew would book a home semi-final – something that looked very significant at the time because of the differences between the home and away games against top sides up to that point. There was a four-game winning run in that period which contained a very special moment as Ryan Hall became Super League’s all-time leading try scorer during the home win against Huddersfield Giants. The run was eventually ended with a golden-point defeat by Catalans Dragons with Peters questioning if talk of the top-two finish was affecting them – but something very special was about to happen in the months following that.

Rovers put together an extraordinary eight-game winning run, their longest Super League sequence of victories, starting with a derby win at Hull FC, as the feel-good factor grew and grew, and the League Leaders’ Shield became a realistic target. The fourth of those eight wins was a huge statement, as they went to fellow high flyers Warrington on August 2 and won 22-4. If ever there was a night to believe that Rovers were the real deal as Grand Final contenders then that was it. Their ability to win a big game away against a top team had been shown, as well as the serious improvements to a defence that was looking increasingly formidable. That game was the start of a tough-looking run-in but Rovers had shown their potential.

August 18 saw another stunning display as they went to Elland Road’s Magic Weekend and put Catalans to the sword by 36-4 and the next game was another away demolition as they took apart St Helens by 42-6. Life was getting better and better for the high-flying Robins. After seeing off play-off team Salford at Craven Park, a battle royale followed at Wigan with both teams going for the League Leaders’ Shield in the long run. Sin-binnings proved too much to overcome for Rovers at Wigan, as they lost narrowly, 24-20, in a great game of rugby league.

Peters’ talk in the press conference at Wigan was telling, he sounded raring to go for another crack at them. And another clinical effort, winning 24-0 at fast-improving Leigh, another play-off team, kept up momentum but it came at a big cost, as captain Elliot Minchella was banned for two games for a high shot on Matt Moylan that kept him out of the final round of Super League and the next play-off game. Rovers, though, got the job done against Leeds in the last round, taking second place ahead of Warrington, who they hosted in the semi-final.

It was another night to savour under the lights at Craven Park as they won an intense battle 10-8 against Sam Burgess’ men and booked a place in the Grand Final, where they faced Wigan. Great times were back at Hull KR and the lead-up to the Grand Final was a special time. Minchella was recognised by winning the club’s player of the year, ahead of other impressive performers Lewis, Hiku and Dean Hadley. Lewis, though, would have a night to remember when he was awarded Man of Steel and Peters took Coach of the Year.

The club’s first-ever Super League Grand Final was another night that Rovers could look back on with heads held high and encouragement for the future, as their months of much stunning defence and eye-catching attacking paid off by getting them there. Despite losing on the big stage, with a 9-2 defeat, as a Bevan French solo try did damage, reaching Old Trafford had been the stuff of dreams in the not-too-distant past. As 2024 ends though, Hull KR dreams are very much becoming a reality, as they try to take the next step in 2025.