An update from Paul Lakin on the search for Willie Peters’ successor
Hull KR chief executive Paul Lakin is leading the search for Willie Peters’ successor
Hull KR are approaching the final stages of their head coach hunt but they are in no rush to appoint Willie Peters’ successor.
The Robins have been looking for a new man to take the reins in 2027 since Peters took up the head coach position with the NRL’s newest team the Papua New Guinea Chiefs at the end of March.
Since then the recruitment process has been extensive and widespread with CEO Paul Lakin and the Rovers hierarchy assessing a number of candidates on both sides of the world.
Interviews have taken place, with Lakin having the chance to speak to a series of applicants and hopefuls and he has whittled those numbers down to the final few.
However, without the pressures of needing to make a raft of recruitment and retention calls going into the 2027 campaign, the Robins can afford to take their time as the process steadily shifts towards a conclusion in the coming weeks.
And, as KR prepare to enter the biggest week of the season so far, Lakin remains calm about the club’s head coach situation.
“We’ve had lots of conversations and I’ve really got to understand the coaching marketplace both in Australia and in the UK,” Lakin told Hull Live.
“I said at the beginning we’re in no rush because it’s really important that we get the right coach that fits our culture. It is very much evolution and not revolution and it’s not like we have a major recruitment process for next season, so that helps us even more to not rush.
“As it stands, we haven’t offered anybody the role yet. That’s where we’re at and we’ll see how the next few weeks go, but in a pretty relaxed way we’re getting to the final two or three now and we’ll take it from there.
“I don’t think we need to put a deadline on it. What if the first person says no, and then the second person says no. We’re not under pressure retention-wise, we’re not under pressure recruitment-wise.”
The Robins have the chance to win a second trophy of the campaign next weekend as they head to Wembley Stadium to face Wigan Warriors in the Challenge Cup and they know a win would go a long way towards sending Willie Peters to the NRL at the end of the year on the back of more success.