Willie Peters will send his Hull KR players out in ‘the biggest game in Rovers’ history’ with the reminder they can cement their place as rugby league legends with victory tonight.
Rovers host NRL champions the Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge at the MKM Stadium for the right to call themselves the best club side in the world.
No team from Hull has ever had the opportunity to play in this game, with this treble-winning Rovers team stepping into further uncharted territory as they continue to write a glittering glorious chapter in their recent history. The World Club Challenge would complete the set for Peters and his Rovers players, with every available club honour theirs.
The size of such an achievement is not lost on the Australian coach, who just a few months ago was helping guide some of the Brisbane players to Test glory against England. Aware of the magnitude of the occasion and the chance presented to them, Peters says he won’t play any of that down when he addresses his players ahead of kick-off.
“We want to make history once again for this club,” Peters told Hull Live. “I believe that we had last season and we do have this year, the squad that can leave a legacy for a long time. We’ve ticked a fair few achievements off, and this is another opportunity to do that. Obviously, we’ll be speaking about that.
“This game is big enough in itself, but these players can become legends of this club for a long period of time. This team can achieve that. So, you know, what a great opportunity to be able to take such a massive milestone of being the first KR team to ever win the World Club Challenge, and the first Hull team to win it.”
After all the worries over player fitness and a potential ban, Rovers go into the game at full strength and with Peters naming his best line-up to take on the Broncos. The Grand Final champions have enjoyed a good week’s preparation and are ready to face arguably their toughest test.
A sold out stadium will, for the most part, be behind them as they pursue glory for the club, east Hull and Super League. One man in particular for who the game will mean more than likely anyone is club owner Neil Hudgell.
Peters says his players have the opportunity to see through Hudgell’s vision, and as such, he chose the former chairman as the person he wanted to come speak to his players before the game.
“I believe this is the biggest occasion, the biggest game in Hull KR ’s history and Neil is the best person to speak to the team about that,” added Peters.
“Neil had a vision of us being here and it wasn’t long ago that he shared that vision, so there’s no better person to speak with the players I believe than our owner.
“We’re executing that vision now. We’ve got an opportunity to finish that off in the biggest game in the club’s history and do something special for Neil, for ourselves and all our supporters.”
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