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“OFFENSE sells tickets, defence wins championships,” is the aphorism attributed to iconic American football coach Paul Bryant.
On this side of the pond though, Betfred Super League leaders Hull KR are doing pretty well on both fronts at the moment.
The Robins took their points scored tally for the season past the 500-mark in Thursday’s 48-0 away to Castleford Tigers, along with keeping their fifth clean sheet of the Super League campaign and sixth in all competitions in 2025.
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Ruthless Robins 👊#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/EDiF3Z8EPh
— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) June 19, 2025
Shutting out their opponents as they moved four points ahead of reigning champions Wigan Warriors at the top of the the table following the Round 15 opener was the most important stat for Hull KR, and not just because it means another free breakfast at one of their local cafes.
“We know how important defence is, I think that’s what wins the comp,” France international full-back Arthur Morgue told BBC Five Live Sports Extra.
“Every game we try to chase the zero and get a free breakfast.
“That’s the reward for us and that’s why we’re chasing so hard.”
Hull KR’s defence has been so impressive this year that they are on course to break a Super League record, with just 8.13 points per game conceded so far.
The Super League record for the fewest points per game conceded is held by Wigan’s title-winning 1998 squad, who only allowed 9.65 across 23 matches.
A 27-round regular season in the present day means four extra matches to try to keep opponents at bay for, and they were fortunate Zac Cini dropped the ball while going over the line from Innes Senior’s stunning counter-attack on Thursday, but Robins prop Sam Luckley is up for the fight.
“The zero is the most important thing for us,” Luckley told BBC Five Live Sports Extra.
“Tries are all well and nice, but keeping that zero…defence is what we pride ourselves on, we work harder on that than anything.
“We’ll be absolutely buzzing with that [clean sheet against Castleford].”
Hull KR’s near-impervious defence was on display in their recent Betfred Challenge Cup final triumph at Wembley, where they kept Warrington Wolves to just one converted try despite being pinned in their own 20 for significant parts of the match.
After claiming a first major honour for 40 years, attention now turns to securing the League Leaders’ Shield and going one better than finishing runners-up in last year’s grand final, with Luckley seeing their performances as a culmination of head coach Willie Peters’ work since he arrived in East Hull ahead of the 2023 season.
“When Willie came in that first year and wanted a new culture, those things take time,” Luckley said.
“Now we’re into his third year and my third year, and a lot of us are still here and we’ve got that core together.
“It’s working really well, we’ve got one of the best groups ever, we’re all really close and it’s starting to show on the field.
“We’re gelling and we’re getting the fruits of our labour.”
Not to mention free food. Although don’t go getting any ideas that Peters’ squad will be indulging in greasy fry-ups from the days of old.
“It’s going to be sourdough toast with avocado and bacon to keep us healthy,” Morgue said.
