HULL KR coach Craig Sandercock said he couldn't be prouder of his players after watching them lose 21-16 to cup finalists Wigan.
The game was in the balance right until the final hooter with Sandercock's side unable to find the killer pass to seal a deserved win.
Evarn Tuimavave's late try gave the Robins hope, but a young Wigan side held on for the points.
Sandercock said: "They are a great bunch of players.
"It's a pleasure coaching this team.
"Maybe the bounce of the ball will go our way soon. We came through adversity to almost snatch it at the end.
"If we can fix up our discipline we'll have more in the tank later in the game.
"The 9-4 count took its toll on us."
Sandercock, whose side were reduced to 12 men for 10 minutes in the second half, questioned a number of decisions that went against his side.
The most crucial was Josh Charnley's second try which was allowed to stand, even though he seemed to ground the ball on the touchline.
That made the score 14-10 to Wigan and knocked 12-man Rovers for a while.
Had the try not been given, Rovers may have gone on and secured a famous win.
"I can't comment otherwise I'll get fined," he said. "Everybody saw it, what can I say?
"It's a game of inches. I'm disappointed at losing this one."
Mickey Paea picked up a knee injury in the second half and is an early doubt for the derby.
Jordan Cox, who needed treatment for a facial injury early on, is another doubt.
But the young players like Tyla Hepi gave another good account of themselves.
"We had no right to win that game given the squads," Sandercock said. "We had a lot of young kids and the future is a good one."
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