Rovers have the chance to go back to back at Wembley tomorrow afternoon
Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com – 26/05/2026 – Rugby League – Betfred Challenge Cup Final Preview – The Alchemist, Manchester, England – Hull KR Head Coach Willie Peters
The Challenge Cup continues to bring the best out of Willie Peters and Hull KR as the Rovers head coach prepares his side for a third final in four years.
Saturday’s meeting against Wigan Warriors at Wembley will be Peters’ last Challenge Cup game in charge of the Robins before he heads back to the NRL at the end of the year and he’d dearly love to go out with another medal around his neck.
The Australian won’t allow himself to think about those things, though. Instead, he is focused on what his side need to do to allow them to reach that moment.
That’s the mindset that led to last year’s treble, with the 2025 Challenge Cup being the first and all important domino to fall, and that could be the key to success this year as well, with Peters refusing to be swept up in the emotion of the day.
“It certainly brings the best out in our team, that’s for sure. We’ve shown that in the four years, this is our third time making the final and we made a semi, and Wigan’s pretty consistent as well,” Peters said.
“I think it brings out the best in individuals and how you handle pressure, how you handle that do or die.
“You see some teams that have fallen over the last sort of few years. Is it because of they understand the end result? I think it’s about understanding process and making sure you get that right.
“We’ve always been about that. We’ve always been about consistency.
“I think when you get that right, then result takes care of yourself, but I’m really proud of the players and staff, how they have handled the pressure of do or die over the four years that I’ve been here.”
Peters wouldn’t admit it himself, but another cup win would surely signal the start of a dynasty in east Hull, with KR establishing themselves as the dominant team in the northern hemisphere over a sustained period.
“For us, it’s head down, tick it off and hopefully get another one,” he added. “We’re not really outcome driven, we’re process driven and as long as we get our process right.
“Where we are at the moment, it just happened so quickly. We had a poor start to the season but we went back to what worked for us, we went back to pretty much just ticking off week to week. That’s what we’ll do this week and then just see where we’re at.
“We’re going through a special time as a club and this is a special team, there’s no doubt that, so we have to make the most of it. We have to lean it into it and see it as an opportunity to put yourself alongside some great teams and clubs.”