Sue will be sticking around for a fifth season at Craven Park
Sauaso Sue has penned a new deal with Hull KR this week(Image: SW Pix)
Sauaso Sue has exceeded Willie Peters’ initial expectations regarding the impact he could make at Hull KR over the last four years.
Sue joined the Robins ahead of the 2023 campaign after spending 10 seasons in the NRL as a first-team regular with Wests Tigers, Canterbury Bulldogs and Newcastle Knights.
Since then he has been a key man under Willie Peters, leading the way in more ways than one, both on and off the field. The prop has made 96 appearances in red and white, with 15 tries coming along the way, and of those outings 20 have come this season as he continues to produce for Peters in Super League.
It did not come as a surprise to see the 34-year-old pen a new one-year deal to extend his time at Craven Park beyond the end of the current season then with Sue committing to stick around and help ease the transition from Peters to new head coach Nathan Cayless in 2027.
And, after seeing him rewarded at Rovers, Peters admits he was wrong about Sue when he first joined the club.
“He was one of my first signings at the club and to be honest, did I think he’d get five years out? No,” Peters said. “For me, he’s exceeded expectations.
“I certainly knew what he was capable of but just in terms of the way he has bought in and his family have bought in and it’s what he brings off the field as well.
“When he first came over we probably weren’t the fittest team in terms of body shapes and how we looked and Jesse led the way in terms of skinfolds and a lot of those areas of what a professional rugby league player looks like.
“In his first year, he had a great record when he played but then he picked up an injury at Magic and then he didn’t play. A few questioned the signing at the time but in 16 games, the success we had he was a big part of that.
“He’s been able to go on a really strong run the last three years and he’s been one of our best forwards every week. His best and worst is not too far away. What I like most about Jesse is the person that he is and we’ll be mates for a long time after footy.”
Pushed on why he may had some initial doubt, Peters added: “He had a couple of issues in and around some head knocks and injuries. I just felt that going into that age bracket that two or three years would probably see him out. After the first year and second year, that’s when I realised he has a lot left in him.
“He’s still showing the way and it’s credit to what he does away from the game. He trains hard, he eats well and does the recovery and prep that’s needed.
“When you see that first hand, it soon changes your mind and thinking. I was hoping he would go on as long as he could but I thought previous injuries might catch up with him in his early 30s. He’s got better with age, he’s the fittest he’s ever been, he looks healthy and he’s in good shape.”