The most consequential Hull derby since...

This Saturday sees Hull FC host Hull KR in the Challenge Cup quarter finals. Incredibly, this is only the second time the two sides have ever been drawn against each other since they faced each other in the 1979 final. I have not looked forward to a Hull derby this much for a long time, maybe even ever.

One of the most tedious debates (in my view) is which is the biggest and best derby. The answer to that question is whichever one you personally enjoy the most. However, this debate usually centres around the Hull derby and the Wigan v St Helens derby.

You can whether its more important to share the origin of the word "derby" or share a postcode. But what we all agree on is that our game is stronger with the existence of such intense matches.

The point of this piece isn't to argue one derby is "better" than the other. What I will argue though is that the St Helens v Wigan derby is often the most consequential.

Bragging rights are great. Competitions are better. The most consequential Hull derby of the last 10 years was in July 2015, where Hull FC won to secure a place in the Super 8's and essentially condemn Hull KR to the middle 8's.

Before that, the last derby of true consequence was in the 2010 play offs, where Hull KR dumped their city rivals out of the play offs, ending their season.

By comparison, since 2010, Wigan and St Helens have played each other in 3 Grand Finals, 3 Challenge Cup ties and 3 play off ties. There is often more on the line, competition wise, when these two sides play.

In some ways, the scarcity of consequential Hull derbies makes Saturday's encounter more tantilising. As does the form of the two sides. They go into this encounter occupying the top two spots in Super League. And that may still be true when the two sides play each other on Good Friday.

Hull is a fantastic Rugby League city. I think there's a fair argument to say that there is nowhere in the UK where our sport is a bigger deal.

You can look at the away followings from the Hull clubs over recent weeks. Or Hull KR's attendance boom, or Hull FC consistently drawing good crowds and maybe those increasing with better form.

I prefer to look at where these clubs were when times weren't good. In 2017, Hull KR played in the Championship following relegation an averaged a crowd of just under 7,000. In 2024, Hull FC put in some disgracefully bad performances, yet almost 11,000 per match turned up on average.

For fans with longer memories, you will remember that neither side were in Super League when the league was formed. Hull KR were in the third division (the equivalent of League 1 today).

From the nadir of mid 1990's, we fast forward 29 years and see both sides at the top end of Super League, facing off in what is likely to be the biggest Challenge Cup quarter final crowd since this century, live on the BBC.

Matches like this will show not just the two teams but the city of Hull in a positive light before a national audience.

And if these two sides keep up their form, maybe we will see not just more derbies between the two but more consequential derbies. Ones where the results define seasons and not just the mood of the city.