Willie Peters lifts lid on last week’s meeting with his Hull KR players with 2026 set to be his last in Super League.
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters, pictured celebrating last year’s Grand Final victory with Sam Luckley and Sauaso Sue, will leave the club at the end of 2026.
Willie Peters admits that telling his Hull KR stars 2026 would be his last year was an “emotional meeting” – but he insists the strong bonds they have forged mean friendships for life in East Hull.
The 47-year-old Australian has helped establish Hull KR as one of rugby league ’s powerhouses, with 12 months of ultimate glory culminating in February’s historic World Club Challenge triumph over Brisbane Broncos.
But 2026 will be Peters’ final year at Sewell Group Craven Park. He has been officially appointed the inaugural head coach of the PNG Chiefs, having made no secret about his desire to lead the NRL’s newest franchise.
He broke the news to his players last week – and they responded emphatically, thrashing St Helens 52-10 in their first home Super League match of the season.
Peters admits, however, that it was an emotional period.
He explained: “It was really difficult. Because there was some media in and around it, anyone that spoke to me directly, I let them know my thoughts and what I wanted to do or what was in the pipeline.
“But as a group, I didn’t really have any information to give. Once I had that information, I certainly wasn’t going to hold that back from our players, the board and our CEO.
“I had conversations with Paul Lakin and then spoke to the team. It was obviously emotional. An emotional meeting with me letting them know what I was looking at doing, because we’ve built a family environment here.
“We’re all close and to do what we did last year, it builds stronger connections and stronger relationships.
“Now, at the end of the year when we do move on, we’re going to have friends for life in East Hull.”
With Peters’ plans clear and the board having time to find his successor, Hull KR can focus on defending all their titles in his final Super League season.
“It wasn’t easy to let the players know, but it gave them clarity and gave us all clarity. Our aim now is to make sure we give this season everything it deserves, so the players did that last Friday night,” he said.
“I want to pay credit to them because it was a difficult week and the resilience they showed – I’m extremely proud of. It could have gone the other way, but they went back to being Hull KR, and that’s what I’m proud of.”