Longstanding Hull KR owner Neil Hudgell has described the club's journey from the depths of financial ruin to the brink of World Club Challenge glory as a 'rollercoaster ride'. The Super League champions face Brisbane Broncos on Thursday, with the world crown up for grabs.
Hudgell, who has invested millions into his boyhood club over 25 years, recalls the low points vividly: 'I remember crowds of barely more than 1,000 at the old Craven Park. People just weren't interested in Hull KR for long periods.' The club languished in the second and third tiers before rising to become a Super League force, culminating in a historic treble last year.
The match has been moved to Hull FC's stadium to meet unprecedented demand, with 25,000 tickets sold in record time. Hudgell hopes the event will attract a new generation of supporters, noting a shift from the older, white male demographic of the past.
Despite being heavy underdogs after a surprise defeat in their Super League opener, Hudgell is focused on the legacy: 'To lay a World Club Challenge on top of that treble... that's immortality stuff. There has never been a world champion team in Hull. To be the first, that's what you dream of.'
