Charlie Mullan talks to George Fairbairn about Hull KR's best season, the 1983-84 Championship and Premiership double-winning campaign, ahead of a 30th anniversary reunion dinner. Scroll down for Rob Chadwick's memories of the Robins' heyday.
It may be 30 years since Hull Kingston Rovers dominated rugby league, but those who were involved can still remember it like yesterday.
During the eighties, Rovers were the team to beat. Although the 10-5 Wembley win over Hull FC in the 1980 Challenge Cup final has become synonymous with Rovers' heyday, the 1983-84 campaign actually stands out as their best season.
Not only did they deny Hull again, by pipping them to the Championship title by a point, they also went on to complete a historic double by winning the Premiership final.
That 18-10 win over Castleford saw Roger Millward's side become the first team to perform such a double.
George Fairbairn missed the final win over Cas because of injury, but the former full-back is in no doubt why Millward's men were so successful.
"We had the perfect mix of experienced players and young players coming through," he told the Mail, ahead of tonight's reunion dinner at the KC Lighstream Stadium.
"Our goal at the start of the season was to win as many games as we could. There were points throughout the season where we got the kick up the backside we needed, but it refocused us on what we wanted to achieve."
With overseas stars John Dorahy, Gordon Smith, Mark Broadhurst and the prolific Gary Prohm in their ranks, expectation levels were as high as they've ever been. But that wasn't a problem for the squad Millward had assembled because he sent them out confident of winning every game they played.
However, that's not to say the historic campaign was not without its ups and downs.
St Helens beat them 30-11 on the opening day of the season, while Castleford's 26-14 win meant Rovers were already playing catch-up on the rest of the teams in Division One.
"They were the kick up the backside we needed," Fairbairn recalls. "Losing to Saints and Castleford made us think we weren't as good as we thought we were. The confidence to turn things around was still there within the group, though, because we had so many good players. But whilst those defeats weren't nice to take, they helped us refocus."
It took a while for Rovers to find their rhythm, but they managed to pick up points to keep in touch with the leaders.
After beating Bradford Northern 16-14, they faced an all-conquering Queensland side which expected to finish their tour of England unbeaten. They were in for a shock.
"It was a scrappy game," chuckled Fairbairn, who was part of the only side to beat the tourists. "There were a few skirmishes, but we rose to the occasion.
"To beat Queensland was unbelievable and everyone was cock-a-hoop. They were telling the papers what they were going to do to us and how they were going to do it too.
"But they didn't because we had developed an inner steel within us to beat them, and we used that for the rest of the season."
Having beaten Queensland, Rovers rattled off 10 straight wins to get their title aspirations back on track. But just when they thought they were becoming invincible, Bradford Northern embarrassed them 20-0, a timely reminder there was still plenty of work to be done.
That hurt spurred Rovers on to finish the league season strongly, eventually finishing top of the table by a point from the Black and Whites.
"The pressure was off when we wrapped up the title with three weeks to go," said Fairbairn. "We still went out to win every game we played, but we lost our last two. Again, it came at the right time, though, as our defeats to Hull and Leeds focused us on the Premiership.
"Roger made a few little tweaks in training and we were all wondering why he was changing things at that stage of the season. But there was method to his madness because we went into the play-offs full of optimism."![premiership]()
John Dorahy and Roy Holdstock savour the champagne after beating Castleford to win the Premiership.
A week after Leeds had inflicted a 20-16 league defeat on Rovers, the Robins bounced back and gained revenge with a 54-0 Premiership win. "We were on fire against Leeds and they couldn't handle us," added Fairbairn. "We didn't get too caught up in gaining revenge because you can lose your focus that way. "We were used to playing big games and our knock-out experience served us well. "The week after we played St Helens, who had found form towards the back end of the season. It was a close game, but in the end we secured victory to reach the Premiership final." Fairbairn missed the final because of injury, but he knew his team-mates would complete the Championship and Premiership double, something which had not been done before. Castleford did make life extremely difficult for Rovers at Headingley, but Fairbairn believes Millward's ability to keep his players grounded was the key to victory. "Roger made sure we didn't lose our focus," he explained. "He made us do a lot of hard work in training. "Castleford were a tricky side who played an open game. If you let them play, they could turn on the flair and make you pay. They came at us at 100mph but we managed to hold on to win. "The feeling at the final hooter was one of immense joy because we were the first side to do the double. We knew we deserved it too." Cue the celebrations, which Fairbairn knows will be fondly remembered again at tonight's reunion dinner. "It was a golden time in the history of Rovers and I'm proud to have played my part in such an historic season."
'The big clubs feared coming to Craven Park'Rob Chadwick, commentator and a Hull KR fan of 37 years, recalls the Robins' heyday. I was given the choice of which team to follow by my stepdad, who took me to the Boulevard and then Craven Park the following week. I remember Hull's captain looking overweight and old that first week, before then seeing Phil Lowe burst through a tackle and run over the full-back. That was the moment I knew Rovers were the team for me. I actually became a teenager at the Christmas of that historic 1983-84 season. I lived on Longhill Estate and got the number 56 bus to Holderness Road to stand in the same spot at Craven Park week after week. Like most Rovers fans, I went to games then knowing we'd win rather than hoping to win. Roger Millward was in his pomp as coach and he had developed a good mix of Hull-born players with seasoned internationals and, of course, the overseas contingent. Watching games back then, you knew if the opposition made a break that George Fairbairn would stop it. Paul Harkin was a quality scrum-half and if he'd been playing now, he'd definitely be the king of the 40/20s. His kicking was unbelievably good but because he was playing at the same time as Andy Gregory and Derek Fox, he didn't get to play at international level. Watching teams warm-up before playing us, you could tell some of them were beaten even before the game got under way. At times that season we were unplayable. Leeds, Wigan, Widnes and St Helens were all big clubs but we expected to beat them every time we played them. As fans, we played our part because we were right on top of the action at the old Craven Park. It was an unbelievable time to be a Rovers fan in what was the rugby league capital of the world. If Rovers weren't winning a trophy, Hull were and vice versa. The derbies that season were special because there were a lot more Hull-born players involved. Little did I know back then, that I would get the chance to commentate on Rovers game later in life. I always wanted to play for Rovers, but I was never good enough. Commentating is the next best thing and speaking to the players after games is an honour. Despite speaking to today's Rovers players regularly, I reckon I'll be star-struck when I meet the likes of John Dorahy and Gary Prohm. It happens to be my wedding anniversary today, but thankfully my understanding wife knows just what this reunion dinner means to me.
John Dorahy and Roy Holdstock savour the champagne after beating Castleford to win the Premiership.A week after Leeds had inflicted a 20-16 league defeat on Rovers, the Robins bounced back and gained revenge with a 54-0 Premiership win. "We were on fire against Leeds and they couldn't handle us," added Fairbairn. "We didn't get too caught up in gaining revenge because you can lose your focus that way. "We were used to playing big games and our knock-out experience served us well. "The week after we played St Helens, who had found form towards the back end of the season. It was a close game, but in the end we secured victory to reach the Premiership final." Fairbairn missed the final because of injury, but he knew his team-mates would complete the Championship and Premiership double, something which had not been done before. Castleford did make life extremely difficult for Rovers at Headingley, but Fairbairn believes Millward's ability to keep his players grounded was the key to victory. "Roger made sure we didn't lose our focus," he explained. "He made us do a lot of hard work in training. "Castleford were a tricky side who played an open game. If you let them play, they could turn on the flair and make you pay. They came at us at 100mph but we managed to hold on to win. "The feeling at the final hooter was one of immense joy because we were the first side to do the double. We knew we deserved it too." Cue the celebrations, which Fairbairn knows will be fondly remembered again at tonight's reunion dinner. "It was a golden time in the history of Rovers and I'm proud to have played my part in such an historic season."
'The big clubs feared coming to Craven Park'Rob Chadwick, commentator and a Hull KR fan of 37 years, recalls the Robins' heyday. I was given the choice of which team to follow by my stepdad, who took me to the Boulevard and then Craven Park the following week. I remember Hull's captain looking overweight and old that first week, before then seeing Phil Lowe burst through a tackle and run over the full-back. That was the moment I knew Rovers were the team for me. I actually became a teenager at the Christmas of that historic 1983-84 season. I lived on Longhill Estate and got the number 56 bus to Holderness Road to stand in the same spot at Craven Park week after week. Like most Rovers fans, I went to games then knowing we'd win rather than hoping to win. Roger Millward was in his pomp as coach and he had developed a good mix of Hull-born players with seasoned internationals and, of course, the overseas contingent. Watching games back then, you knew if the opposition made a break that George Fairbairn would stop it. Paul Harkin was a quality scrum-half and if he'd been playing now, he'd definitely be the king of the 40/20s. His kicking was unbelievably good but because he was playing at the same time as Andy Gregory and Derek Fox, he didn't get to play at international level. Watching teams warm-up before playing us, you could tell some of them were beaten even before the game got under way. At times that season we were unplayable. Leeds, Wigan, Widnes and St Helens were all big clubs but we expected to beat them every time we played them. As fans, we played our part because we were right on top of the action at the old Craven Park. It was an unbelievable time to be a Rovers fan in what was the rugby league capital of the world. If Rovers weren't winning a trophy, Hull were and vice versa. The derbies that season were special because there were a lot more Hull-born players involved. Little did I know back then, that I would get the chance to commentate on Rovers game later in life. I always wanted to play for Rovers, but I was never good enough. Commentating is the next best thing and speaking to the players after games is an honour. Despite speaking to today's Rovers players regularly, I reckon I'll be star-struck when I meet the likes of John Dorahy and Gary Prohm. It happens to be my wedding anniversary today, but thankfully my understanding wife knows just what this reunion dinner means to me.
