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When the Super League was formed, it was suggested that Hull Kingston Rovers should merge with Hull FC to form 'Humberside' and compete in the Super League. This was resisted but despite finishing top of the Third Division, they were not promoted.
Rovers were again crowned champions of the now renamed Second Division in 1996 and were this time promoted to the First Division. Rovers made a huge impact in 1997 and finished 8th.
Rovers finished second in the league in 1998 and came close to a Grand Final spot with a Super League spot at stake. The Robins were expected to go one better in 1999 and topped the table for most of the season before their run ended and the final 6 games saw them drop from first place to sixth, missing out on a play-off place. Disappointment followed the year after when the Robins finished in seventh place in the league after a mid-season collapse and exited the play-offs in the first round.
Don Robinson took control in 2001 and Gary Wilkinson became head coach. Despite reaching the National Cup final and finishing fourth in the league, Wilkinson made way for the club's first overseas coach, Steve Linnane.
Under Linnane, the Robins came within eighty minutes of their first Grand Final appearance in 2002, after a largely successful end to the season, whilst the arrival of former player Nick Halafihi as Chief Executive, boosted the club's off-field activities.
In 2004 the club appointed Mal Reilly as Director of Rugby and Martin Hall as First Team Coach after Steve Linnane's resignation. But Reilly left the club mid way through the season, while Hall took the club to the play-off semi-final before leaving once the season had finished. Halafihi also left the club.
Harvey Howard was appointed first team coach and Paul Lakin appointed Chief Executive in late 2004. Howard was dismissed shortly before the Northern Rail Cup Final, which Rovers went on to win 18-16 over Castleford Tigers with The Robins utilising the temporary player-coaching abilities of James Webster.
Permanently taking over from Howard was the former Toulouse coach, Justin Morgan. October 2005 who saw the club still in the National League, after failing to get past the semi final stage of the NL1 play-offs. Rovers also started a number of ground improvements, including the laying of a new pitch, and widening of the playing surface. Hull Kingston Rovers also made some big signings for the 2006 season.
Up to that time unbeaten in their 2006 fixtures, in early June they were drawn to meet Super League side Warrington Wolves, in the quarter final of the Challenge Cup. It was arguably their biggest fixture for some years. Against all the odds the Robins won, 40-36, their best result in the competition since their 1980 Challenge Cup win against local rivals Hull FC. This result also created a new club record of 18 consecutive wins. The victory set up a semi final tie against Super League leaders, St Helens.
Rovers also progressed to the final of the Northern Rail Cup for the second successive season, against Leigh Centurions at Bloomfield Road, Blackpool on the 16 July. Leigh Centurions won this game 22-18, thus ending Rovers' twenty four match unbeaten run. The club's Challenge Cup campaign also came to an abrupt halt, Rovers gamely succumbing 50-0 to triple-winning St Helens at The Galpharm Stadium, Huddersfield.
Sunday 10 September 2006 saw Rovers crowned National League One Minor Premier winners, and qualify for an automatic place in the NL1 playoff semi final at Craven Park against Widnes Vikings whom they beat 29-22 to reach the first Grand Final in their history, which they won 29-16, earning a place in the following season's Super League competition.
After shrewd close-season signings and an overseas training camp, Rovers made a better than expected start to their first Super League campaign, winning their first two games - Wakefield at home and Huddersfield away. After suffering a reversal to Harlequins RL, they then had an away win (26-16) at Wigan, followed by a hard-fought victory at home to in-form Leeds, to go joint top of the early season table. However, inconsistent form, injuries and the effects of the first Super League sending-off (after 96 games) saw Rovers slip to near the bottom, despite a historic double away win over Wigan, and beating local rivals Hull F.C. at the Millennium Magic weekend. Improved late season results, including the safety-clinching win at Hull's KC Stadium by the shock margin of 42-6, ensured Super League status for another campaign.
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