Willie Peters gives his reaction after Hull KR claimed several records in their 104-0 Challenge Cup victory.
Hull KR opened their 2026 Challenge Cup title defence with a win over community club Lock Lane.(Image: Hull KR)
Willie Peters praised Hull KR’s four debutants after the club recorded their biggest-ever win, a 104–0 victory that kickstarted their Challenge Cup title defence.
The reigning Super League champions cruised past community club Lock Lane on home soil, with academy product Harvey Horne among the standout performers after scoring a hat-trick on his senior debut.
Horne, 20, was joined by new recruits Karl Lawton, Tom Whitehead and Jack Charles, who all made their first official Hull KR appearances and also crossed the whitewash in an emphatic display.
“I thought they all did well,” Peters said. “For Harvey Horne, it was his senior debut and a big occasion for him and his family.
“Every time he carried the ball, he did it with intent. He made a couple of errors, but that’s part of his learning and development. The way he runs and the choices he made, I thought he made some really good decisions tonight.
“Karl Lawton is going to be a really valuable player for us. He can play a number of positions – he started at hooker and then moved to 13.
“Tom Whitehead was strong, we played him at prop through the middle. We wanted him to keep it nice and simple.
“And Jack Charles had some nice touches in the second half. We felt simplifying his role would help him, and he did well.”
The Rovers boss was also keen to credit the amateur opposition, with the Castleford-based outfit relishing a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to face the Super League champions at Sewell Group Craven Park.
“I thought Lock Lane came out firing,” he added. “We scored early, but at 12-0 after 15 minutes, they did a good job in the early stages.
“Naturally, because players are professional, we knew that fitness would get to the opposition – but they didn’t stop trying.
“For us, keeping any team to zero is something we really pride ourselves on, so that was pleasing. Overall, it was a decent hit-out.”
The result marked Hull KR’s largest-ever victory, surpassing the previous club record of 100–6 against Nottingham City in August 1990.
Back-rower Rhyse Martin also claimed an individual accolade, setting a new club record for the most conversions kicked in a single game – a benchmark that had stood since 1910. The Papua New Guinea international converted 16 from 18 tries in the wet conditions.
“We always want to tick off little milestones along the way, and to do that as a team is great,” Peters said. “For Rhyse, that’s pretty cool – to be the highest goal-kicker in a game in the club’s history.
“We know how good he is with the boot. In last year’s Grand Final, he only missed one kick. When it matters, he gets them, and tonight was a great milestone for him.”