Willie Peters believes Hull KR have appointed the right man in Nathan Cayless, backing his successor to thrive in his first senior head coaching role when he takes charge in 2027 due to his strong values and leadership qualities.
Cayless, 48, will step into his first top-flight head coaching role after serving as Parramatta Eels’ New South Wales Cup head coach and working as an assistant coach in the NRL.
The highly respected former forward is set to take the reins at Hull KR following his commitments with New Zealand at this year’s World Cup, where he will serve as an assistant coach. Peters has backed his former on-field rival to succeed at Sewell Group Craven Park.
“I think it’s great that the club has got their man and Nathan is in place for the next three years,” said Peters, who will depart Super League at the end of the year after being named the inaugural head coach of the new PNG Chiefs franchise.
“I don’t know Nathan’s coaching style and all that, but I know him as a person and I played against him, and I know he has strong values and he was a very good player back in the day. He’s got great leadership qualities, and he’ll do well.”
A one-club player, Cayless remains Parramatta Eels’ longest-serving captain in their history, having been appointed skipper at just 21 years old in 2000. He captained the club on 221 occasions, with a total of 259 first-grade appearances.
He also earned 39 caps for New Zealand, famously captaining the Kiwis to World Cup glory in 2008 with a 34-20 final victory over Australia.
“As a person, he’s got strong values, he’s a quality person and he works hard,” Peters added.
“I look at the way he used to play, and I’m sure nothing has changed there.”
Inducted into Parramatta’s Hall of Fame in 2014, Cayless is widely respected for his contribution to the Eels as both a player and coach.
He will be under no illusions about the challenge awaiting him after Peters’ historic four-year tenure in East Hull, having been handed his first senior head coaching opportunity by the Robins.
Over the past 12 months, Peters has guided Rovers to every piece of major silverware and will be aiming to finish his time at the club on a high before departing for Papua New Guinea at the end of the season.
“It’s an opportunity that people need, and Nathan has worked hard for his opportunity,” Peters said.
“He’s worked through the grades, he’s been an assistant for some while and he’s had his own team in the New South Wales Cup. It’s about getting an opportunity, and I was fortunate enough to get an opportunity here and it’s about taking that opportunity, which I’m sure he’ll do.
“I’m grateful for the opportunity that I got, and nothing will change in finishing what we started, and finishing on a high.”