23 July 2023 , 20:20
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Willie Peters watched loanee Brad Schneider dramatically fire Hull KR to Wembley but insisted: “Now we need to finish the job.”
The cool-headed Australian stand-off only arrived from Canberra barely a fortnight ago. He has played twice for KR and, remarkably, scored the golden-point winner both times. After helping down Leeds in the Super League, Schneider returned to the same Headingley ground to break the hearts of holders Wigan in a thrilling Challenge Cup semi-final.
After superbly scoring a touchline conversion to level the game at 10-10, the 22-year-old held his nerve again with a brilliant 40m drop goal in extra-time. Rovers, thrashed 50-0 by Leeds the last time they made Wembley in 2015, face Leigh in the unlikeliest of finals on August 12.
Aussie Peters, in his first year as Robins boss, said: “It’s an amazing feeling. I’m so pleased for everyone involved. We had adversity before the game when Ryan Hall was ruled out after the warm-up with a calf injury. There was a bit of chaos. But I walked in and our captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall said ‘We’ve got this. Don’t worry.’
“That was so reassuring to know for me as coach. And then Brad did his thing. There’s a lot of responsibility as half back. You need to take big moments and he did that - even though he wasn’t pleased with his first half. But we need to learn from 2015. From what I heard, I believe we got carried away with winning the semi-final - and then in the big dance and didn’t perform.”
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The big talking point today was Wigan’s Joe Shorrocks' 41st minute red card for a shoulder to the head of KR full-back Mikey Lewis. Even Peters thought it might only have been worthy of a yellow from referee Liam Moore. Shorrocks had only been on the pitch 60 seconds after coming on at half-time.
Hull KR players celebrate Brad Schneider's drop goal winner against Wigan Warriors (Getty Images)His side, who replied to Louis Senior’s opening try with a 23rd minute effort from Jai Field, initially coped alright without him and actually extended their lead to 10-4. Kenny-Dowall was yellow carded for barging Toby King in the 49th minute as the Wigan centre chased a kick and Harry Smith slotted his third goal. But moments after returning, Kenny-Dowall ran on the last tackle and found an offload for Matt Parcell to send Ethan Ryan over. And then Schneider delivered.
On the red card, Wigan boss Matty Peet said: “It’s a big call in a semi. It’s a referee from Wigan who feels under the spotlight maybe? And if he (Lewis) is that dazed when he gets up I'm not sure how he doesn’t have to go for a HIA. It does hurt (losing). But Hull KR deserved it.”