Captaining New Zealand to Rugby League World Cup glory was no fluke, according to Robbie Hunter-Paul, who believes Nathan Cayless’ leadership qualities are exactly why Hull KR have landed the right man to succeed Willie Peters.
Cayless will take charge of the Robins at the end of the 2026 Super League season on a three-year deal, bringing an end to his spell as Parramatta Eels’ New South Wales Cup head coach.
The 48-year-old enjoyed a distinguished playing career in both the NRL and on the international stage, making his New Zealand debut alongside Hunter-Paul in 1998.
He would go on to captain the Kiwis, famously leading them to their first – and, to date, only – Rugby League World Cup triumph in 2008.
Cayless also remains Parramatta’s longest-serving captain and became the youngest skipper in NRL history when he took the armband at just 21 years old in 2000.
Hunter-Paul says it was obvious from the moment Cayless arrived on the international scene that he was destined for the top, with the pair going on to win 19 caps together for New Zealand from 1998 to 2004.
“I think his first tour was in 1998. It was Nathan and Tony Puletua. If you’re a young forward and you can get into the international set-up, you know you’ve got something special – and Nathan certainly did,” Hunter-Paul said.
“He had an incredible work-rate and did all the little things really, really well.
“He then goes on to captain the Kiwis, and they don’t give that to just anyone. You’ve got to earn your stripes. You’ve got to be a great leader on and off the field, and I think that tells you everything about the person he is.
“He’s really friendly, he’s a listener and he’s patient. People like him are always learning, and I think that’s one of the biggest strengths of a great leader – someone who’s willing to keep learning.
“It’s not the genius with a thousand hard workers underneath them; it’s the hard worker with a thousand geniuses. That’s a really good comparison for a professional sports coach because you can’t do anything on the field yourself. It’s not like a normal business where you can roll your sleeves up. You’ve got to have brilliant people around you and bring the best out of them.
“I think the reason New Zealand won the World Cup with Nathan as captain is because that’s the type of leader he is. I’ve never played under him as a coach, so I can’t talk about his coaching expertise, but I can talk about the type of person and player he was – and that’s exactly who he is.”
After making 259 first-grade appearances for Parramatta, Cayless served assistant coaching roles across four NRL clubs over eight years before taking charge of the Eels’ New South Wales Cup side in 2022. He is also part of Stacey Jones’ coaching staff with New Zealand ahead of this year’s Rugby League World Cup.
Hull KR confirmed Cayless as Peters’ successor last month following an extensive recruitment process led by chief executive Paul Lakin. The search included 15 candidates from around the world, with Peters leaving behind one of the most successful eras in the club’s history.
Hunter-Paul believes Cayless has earned his opportunity.
The Bradford Bulls icon said: “He’s done the hard yards. He’s been an assistant coach and worked in development, so he’s got the pedigree. He’s an intelligent guy and he’ll be under no illusion about what he’s walking into – a club and environment with huge expectations, not just from Hull KR but from the whole competition.”
Hunter-Paul also admitted he’s looking forward to reconnecting with his old team-mate, saying the bond forged through playing together on the field never disappears.
“Our pathways have drifted since then. It’s a really weird thing. You’re in the trenches together and you might not stay in touch, but you’ve got that shared history and you protected each other’s backs. It’s a wonderful thing to experience,” he said.
“When he grabs you on the shoulder and says, ‘Come with me’, those moments create a bond that never gets broken.
“I know I’ll catch up with him, and when Hull KR announced him as their incoming head coach, I thought it was a great appointment.”