Willie Peters challenges Hull KR to channel emotions and end his tenure on a high before NRL return
Willie Peters urges Hull KR to channel emotion of his end‑of‑season exit to write thrilling final chapter to his already historic, trophy‑laden spell at Craven Park; watch Hull KR vs Hull FC on Good Friday from midday on Sky Sports Action and Sky Sports+
Wednesday 1 April 2026 13:07, UK
Willie Peters has challenged his Hull KR players to channel the emotion of his confirmed end‑of‑season departure into writing a final chapter fitting for their historic period of success.
Peters will bring the curtain down on his tenure at Craven Park at the end of the season to fulfil his ambition of coaching in the NRL with the newly formed PNG Chiefs.
Under Peters, the Robins ended their 40‑year trophy drought by winning the treble in 2025 and underscored their dominance with a quadruple‑clinching World Club Challenge victory over the Brisbane Broncos in February.
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Peters admitted the time was right to bring his trophy‑laden spell on Humberside to an end, but insisted there is still everything to play for before the time comes to say goodbye.
"It's been quite emotional," he told Sky Sports. "The messages I've received have been overwhelming.
"It was no secret I wanted to head to the NRL but it didn't make my decision any easier, and it certainly won't make it any easier when it's time to go and say goodbye to people we care about and who naturally care about us.
"We've got eight months to make sure we go out on a high, and to be fully committed to the cause and what's ahead.
"This playing group, staff and fanbase are what's most important to me at the moment. I'll continue to make sure we give them a team they're proud of every week.
"I'm naturally looking forward to what's ahead, but the most important thing is the now and what we're doing with Hull KR for the rest of the year. We want to make sure we finish in the right way."
'Timing is everything'
Peters revealed he paid Hull KR the courtesy of giving as much time as possible to source a replacement before his return to the southern hemisphere to head up the new PNG Chiefs franchise, who are set to join the NRL in 2028.
"I always wanted to coach in the NRL but it was about when the right time would be," said Peters.
"There were opportunities to apply for jobs last year but I certainly wasn't going to do that mid‑season.
"I wanted to make sure that, when the time came, the club had enough time to prepare for a new coach. Timing is everything in rugby league, and it's the right time now.
"But the most important thing now is to make sure I give this team everything it deserves, which is my full attention."
He continued: "I feel this is the right job for me. I love bringing people together and helping create culture.
"This is much bigger than a team; it's about a country, and people who are extremely passionate about rugby league, and it's about family.
"These are the best fans in the world, and I mean that. The fans we have here at Hull KR are loyal and passionate; I believe it's on steroids there in Papua New Guinea.
"I look forward to building relationships, earning their trust, and making every PNG supporter proud of their team."
Peters' farewell begins with the 'Rivals Round' visit of Hull FC on Good Friday, live on Sky Sports - a true test of his team's ability to manage their emotions.
"I'm expecting the derby to be exactly what it is every year: uncompromising, aggressive, with players who are passionate," Peters said.
"I don't want us to get carried away with the emotion of the game. It's always an emotional fixture that never goes according to plan; they always go off script.
"We must make sure we stay on task and remain calm and in control, because when we do that in the bigger games, we often find ourselves on the right side of the result."
2026 Super League - key dates and what to look out for
- Rivals Round: April 3-April 5
- Super League in Paris: Sat Jun 6: Catalans Dragons v Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6.30pm UK time (Sky Sports)
- Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
- Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season - including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
