Willie Peters has won trophies, made history and turned Hull KR into one of rugby league’s biggest success stories.
But as he prepares for what is likely to be his final home game at Sewell Group Craven Park, one of his most cherished memories comes from much earlier – and it was a moment involving Neil Hudgell that told him everything he needed to know about his new club.
The Robins host Huddersfield Giants in the penultimate round of the regular season this week, with Peters’ side currently sitting sixth in the Super League play-off race.
They are two points clear of St Helens but four points behind the fourth-placed finish that would secure a home eliminator, with Wakefield Trinity currently fourth on 34 points.
Barring a late change in the picture, Friday is therefore expected to be Peters’ last home game at Craven Park before he departs at the end of the season following an extraordinary four years in East Hull.
Peters has overseen an unprecedented period of success at the club.
He helped end Hull KR’s 40-year trophy drought with victory in the 2025 Challenge Cup before completing a historic treble with the League Leaders’ Shield and Super League title at Old Trafford.
Then, in February, the Robins became world champions after a dramatic victory over Brisbane Broncos.
“Every time I’ve coached here, I’ve been the proudest coach in the world sitting in that box at Craven Park and nothing will change this week,” Peters said.
“I’ve got one more opportunity to do that. I just want to be able to look out on the park one more time and look at this team that this community and fanbase are proud of.
“It’s important they do that with their actions this week and we put in a strong performance for the fans.”
Speaking to the press in midweek, Peters was asked to pick his favourite home memories from his time at the club.
One moment immediately stood out – and it came after his very first game in charge.
Hull KR defeated Wigan Warriors 27-18 in Peters’ opening Super League match at the helm in 2023, including a hat-trick for then-club captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall, and the Australian admits the aftermath gave him an early insight into exactly what the club meant to its people.
“That’s a good question. The first one was pretty cool – the first game when we beat Wigan. That was a great start,” Peters said.
“I remember after the game, for me it was like winning the semi-final going into a Grand Final, the way I was feeling.
“I saw our owner, Neil Hudgell, and learned a fair bit about who he was as a man and what he’s about.
“You could see he was just calm and cool, and what he wanted to do was go on the field and play with his grandkids and kick a ball.
“I’ll always remember that moment of what this club is about and what people we had involved at the club.
“That stuck with me, seeing Neil that day.
“There’s been a lot, and that was obviously the first one.”
Peters will take charge of the PNG Chiefs, who will prepare during 2027 before entering the NRL the following season.
But before that new challenge begins, he has one more chance to experience Sewell Group Craven Park from the coaching box.
“When I come down to Craven Park, I always drive down and watch people come in, and that’s East Hull for me,” he said.
“You see families walk in, partners, best friends – there’s all these different walks of people from different lives coming together to do the same thing, and that’s supporting their team.
“I’m proud every time I sit in that box to coach this club, and I get the opportunity to do that one more time.”