Written by Mike Carter, Hull KR Shirts.
February 2026 could easily be the biggest four-week period in Hull KR’s 144-year history. It starts with a game against Lock Lane and will end in Las Vegas against the Leeds Rhinos, but sandwiched in the middle is a Super League opener as the club starts the defence of their title against York RLFC Knights, followed 7 days later by the World Club Challenge, where we take on Brisbane Broncos at the MKM Stadium.
The World Club Challenge sees the best of the best going head to head, with the NRL Champions taking on the Super League Champions to decide who is the rightful World Champion. The first WCC took place in Sydney, 50 years ago this year, in 1976, where St Helens travelled to take on Eastern Suburbs, a game which Easts won by 25-2. It would take another 11 years for the next WCC to take place, where Wigan levelled the score with the Aussies after beating Manly 8-2 in a try-less encounter. The overall score is 15-14 to the Super League sides (inc previously named top division).
Brisbane has featured in the WCC on 5 occasions, winning the trophy in 1992 and 1997 and finishing runners-up in 1994, 2001 and 2007. Both teams will be going all out to secure the tagline of ‘World Champions’.
Hull KR have marked this special occasion with the release of a limited edition shirt, which will be worn by the team taking on Brisbane Broncos on Thursday 18th February. The release which has been limited to 1984 replica shirts was teased on social media on Wednesday 4th February, ahead of its reveal at 12PM the following day.
I believe all of this was a really good move from Hull KR. We have never had four different designs of playing shirts issued to the club for a season before, and this is something that I know has been deliberate for various reasons, however, if you’re going to go against your norm, a World Club Challenge debut in your home city feels like just cause.
This feels like part of the reason for limiting it too. To me, this isn’t about making more money. This is about making more history for Hull KR. First-ever’ don’t come around too often, but historically, this is one of those moments. Announcing the launch ahead of time was a thoughtful move, too. With it being a limited edition, it meant that it gave as fair a chance as possible to everyone wishing to try their luck at purchasing – me included.
Hull KR 1984 🤝 Hull KR 2025
Championship and Premiership, League Leaders and Super League Champions. Two years during which Hull KR dominated Rugby League’s top competition. The famous design used in 1983/84 is one synonymous with Hull KR, and is the spirit and inspiration behind the 2026 World Club Challenge shirt.
Where do we start… Somehow, this is the first time that we have used the red shirt with a traditional blue band in the OXEN era. We have seen quite a heavy focus on white shirts in recent times and I for one are really glad to see it return. Some of our best-ever shirts are red and blue, and this is one that will go down in history as one of them, in my opinion.
The shirt is all red, with as mentioned, a broad traditional blue band. Within the band is the branding of Hünnebeck – you know the band is broad when all three lines of their branding look in proportion. IRS feature in the collarbone spot, with the logo in monotone white.
Across the chest centrally is the OXEN branding, on the right as wearing is the Betfred World Club Challenge logo and on the other side is the Hull KR club crest with three golden stars above it. One for each of the trophies that Hull KR won in 2025. Below the OXEN logo and wordmark is dye sublimated game details which read “Hull KR vs Brisbane Broncos, February 19th 2026, MKM Stadium”
Each shirt has a jocktag and is numbered from 1 to 1984. As mentioned these shirts are limited edition and will likely sell like hotcakes. The jocktag is slightly larger than usual as it features the Betfred World Club Challenge logo, and each unique number.
The collar is a tight V-neck, that is finished off in white. On the inside of it in red, is “Spirit of ’84” a lovely nod to the Robins of that era – a message to us now that their memory will always live on.
Also in white are the matching sleeve cuffs. On each shoulder, starting at the collar and working its way towards the sleeve is a thick blue band with white stripes on either side. The design breaks away for the sleeve sponsors which are University of Hull and Hudgell Solicitors – which features as a sponsor on a Hull KR shirt for the first time in over 25 years!
The back of the shirt is as simple as you’d hope it would be. The Robin icon is placed in its usual place, just below the collar. Below that is Harrison Solway’s branding, in white, along with Connexin in their new 2026 location below where the squad name and number will be applied.
The WCC shirt will be worn with the shorts and socks from the 2026 Red Robin kit range. The white shorts will give off even more of the 80s vibes. This will be the first time since 2017 that Hull KR have ‘mashed up’ a kits to create a unique look, that is after the club used the shorts from the 2017 away kit with the 135 third shirts against Halifax, Widnes and Warrington.
Who likes chocolate eggs?
Paul Lakin explained in the first 2026 WCC shirt press release that the shirt would have an ‘Easter Egg’ – something which is unannounced or unexpected – within the shirt, and here it is. The Gecko which featured as a sponsor, via Bridgestone Tyres on the 1983/84 home shirt is included on the inner neck of the shirt as a size marker. This is such a simple thing to include, but it could easily be the most popular part of the shirt’s design.
The shades of colour
I was asked to help with the colour matching for the WCC shirt. In the past, when merchandise was designed, a slightly wrong shade was used, making it look potentially brighter or darker. The issue here is that if you’re trying to recreate something, what you want is as close as legally possible to the original to give it the credibility that it deserves. I haven’t seen it in person yet, but the colours look really good, which is a relief! I understand it giving off 2015 home shirt vibes, as that was the closest the colours have been to being like those shades in the 1980s.
Dyes take differently to different materials, as obviously the cotton materials used in the 1980s are very different to the polyester used in the modern day, so sometimes allowances have to be made to ensure the colour match is as close as possible.
Pre-orders on Hull KR Shirts tees ends on Sunday 8th February!
The elephant in the room
We’ve all thought it or said it. Every time a shirt is reimagined it is never the same, and it will likely never be. A huge part of the design elements of the original shirt is the adidas trefoil logo and three stripe branding – something which Hull KR cannot replicate in current times, but that doesn’t mean they shouldn’t at least try when the time is right.
Sean Dickens makes a great point in one of his posts on TwitX, “It’ll be a valiant attempt I’m sure but impossible to improve on perfection” and he is right. Even if we’d managed to get adidas on board to recreate it, it wouldn’t ever top the OG, and you know what, that is absolutely fine. A modern twist on something is a good thing, because even if it were like-for-like, it still wouldn’t be the same.
A shirt fitting of the occasion
The shirt itself is wonderful, and will be more than fitting for the occasion. We haven’t had it confirmed which kit Brisbane will wear yet, but if it is their traditional full maroon, how cool would that be as a throwback to 1983/84 when the Robins faced off against Queensland?
I have to say, as far as reimaging a look goes, this is so well done. Every minor detail has been thought of and applied in a manner that just works. Red, white and blue are three amazing colours to have at your disposal, and the way they all complement each other on this shirt is excellent. My top 10 kits for 2020-2029 just keeps on getting harder and harder to pick, and we still have another three kit cycles to go until then – Oh. My. Word!
Usually, at this point, I would plug the new merch and apply a link, but I have a feeling that this shirt will have sold out before I have the chance to hit the publish button! EDIT: Adult sizes from small to 6XL sold out in just 18 minutes.
We’re going to look the part come 19th February. Now all we need to do is take over the MKM Stadium and turn it red and white – after that, there is just the small matter of winning the 2026 Betfred World Club Challenge.
Up the Robins!
Whilst you’re here, take a look below to catch the magical 150th episode of Talking Shirts.
Hull KR Shirts 