Another incoming major worry for Super League.
Willie Peters is set to leave Hull KR at the end of 2026 and become the first head coach of PNG Chiefs.
Super League is already losing some of its biggest stars to the NRL, unable to compete with the lucrative deals on offer Down Under – including from incoming club Perth Bears.
That concern is only set to grow, with Willie Peters soon preparing to build his first roster as PNG Chiefs head coach ahead of their inaugural 2028 season. It is now expected that the all-conquering Hull KR boss will leave the East Hull club at the end of 2026 to take charge of the latest franchise, which is set to become the NRL’s 19th team.
For 2027, England captain George Williams is expected to return for a second stint in Australia upon the expiry of his Warrington Wolves contract, expected to join the Dolphins. Leeds stars Mikolaj Oledzki, Harry Newman, and James McDonnell have all signed with Perth Bears under Mal Meninga, while Morgan Gannon joined New Zealand Warriors at the end of 2025.
Leeds’ trio will be joined by Toby Sexton and Iszac Fa’asuamaleaui in Western Australia. Meanwhile, Owen Trout became the latest Super League star to be snapped up by the NRL, signing a two-year deal with the Cronulla Sharks starting in 2027.
While Peters will fulfil a long-term ambition of leading in the NRL, his departure underscores a growing concern for Super League: a head coach with intimate knowledge of the competition now heading to Australia.
Calls are mounting for Super League to increase its salary cap, which has been frozen at £2.1 million since 2020 – less than a third of what the NRL offers.
With both leagues expanding, a limited player pool, and the PNG Chiefs soon to start assembling a full, competitive squad, the pressure on Super League is only expected to intensify in the coming years.
Peters will know which players could successfully transition from Super League to the NRL – including several of his Hull KR stars – while PNG international stars such as Edwin Ipape, Lachlan Lam, and Nene Macdonald are already in England.
It is a growing concern that Super League must manage carefully.