Willie Peters wants his Hull KR outfit to gain a lot of belief from their historic Challenge Cup victory, and did not shy away from questions about a potential treble in 2025.
Rovers ended their 40-year trophy hoodoo at Wembley with a dramatic 8-6 victory over Warrington Wolves, sealed by a late try from Tom Davies and a nerveless conversion by reigning Man of Steel Mikey Lewis under immense pressure, in front of 63,278 fans in the capital.
It marked the end of a long wait for silverware, with Peters becoming only the second coach to lead the Robins to Challenge Cup glory.
“I think what the players need to get from this is strong belief,” said the Aussie following the triumph.
“The pressure on the group, there was a lot of pressure. My job is to take it away. Your job [the media] is to increase it, but if we lose that game I know what comes with it. The way they won that game shows the character and the type of team they are. It’s our DNA, it’s who we are. East Hull people.”
Last year, Wigan Warriors completed a historic Grand Slam of trophies, while Hull KR currently lead the way in Super League at the top of the table with just one defeat all season.
Saturday’s victory secured the first major trophy of the year, and Peters hasn’t shied away from talk of completing an extraordinary treble, having fallen just short in last year’s Super League Grand Final.
He said: “It gives the players a lot of belief. We are not going to get carried away yet, there is a lot of rugby to be played, but it gives them a lot of belief.
“We are the only team now that can go after the three so that puts it in our own hands. We are in control of things, which is always good. I have got every belief in this team that we are capable of doing it, but there is a lot of hard work to get to that point.”
Peters also revealed that former Great Britain and England prop Jamie Peacock was the team’s guest speaker on the eve of the Challenge Cup final. The Super League legend delivered a motivational speech on Friday, having won the prestigious competition four times across his decorated career.
“We had Jamie Peacock come in on Friday night,” Peters said. “I always wanted to get JP, but it just never worked with his schedule and things like that.
“JP reached the highest of highs. I wanted to get a player who was a winner, a player that wasn’t the most talented but in terms of effort and competing and work ethic and being a team-mate that everyone wanted to play with, he gives you all of that.
“The players responded really well to him.”
Hull KR Cup final winners special
Hull KR are the 2025 Challenge Cup winners. The Robins put everyone through it but came away from Wembley victorious with a win that will be burned into the memory forever.
To celebrate the triumph, we’ve got a 40-page souvenir special packed full of the best photos from the day, fan galleries from outside Wembley, match analysis, reaction from within the camp and the best photos from the trophy parade.
Pre-order your copy now for just £3.50 and have it delivered to your door. Online postage and packaging costs apply. Available in participating retailers in the Hull area from Friday June 13, 2025.