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Hull KR boss Willie Peters on potential signings and three new NRL players

New Hull KR head coach Willie Peters is already getting stuck into life in East Hull.

The 43-year-old, who arrives from being assistant coach in the NRL with the Newcastle Knights, is no stranger to England having played on these shores for Gateshead, Wigan and Widnes during the late ninities and early noughties.

Now, Peters has touched down in England again, this time to take over as Hull KR head coach, with aims of taking the Robins to that next level with a new look squad for 2023.

Among those joining Peters in the red and white of the Robins next season will be Jesse Sue, Rhys Kennedy and Tom Opacic, with big expectations on what the NRL trio can achieve.

However, there is still talk of more new names, and speaking on BBC Radio Humberside Sports Talk, the new man in the hot seat at Craven Park was quick to play down anymore iminent signings, though he did not completely rule out new acquisitions before the start of next season.

“Well the squad is never finialised, but yeah we’re not active at the moment,” said Peters. “Obviously everyone in the Hull KR club wants success, but we’ve got the same vision of where we want to go.

“At the end of the day, and I’ll be talking to the players about this on day one, I’ll be asking them; where do they want to go?

“The exciting part for us is that we’ve got a team there that is full of effort and there are good people in the club. So it’s a good starting point.”

On the three headline signings, Peters went to the extent of explaining what each of them will bring to the team.

“So Jesse Sue is a very experienced front rower, who is very well respected over in the NRL,” he explained. “Jesse has got really good late footwork. When he carries the ball, he finds his front and get quick play-the-balls.

“He is an aggresive type player and he will help the younger props coming through, because of his experience, and he will become a very well respected guy.

“Rhys Kennedy, I think Rhys is ready to go to that next level. He is turning 28, and as a forward these are your best years. Front rowers normally peak around this time and I think Rhys will do that.

“He has got a big body, a great offload and moves quite well for a big guy. I think we’ll see Rhys’ best footy ahead of him.

“As for Tom Opacic, I’m really excited about. Tom’s not your flashy centre in terms of with the ball. He can do some good things but he’s an extremely good defender that works hard.

“The biggest compliment I can give Tom is I asked a number of players in the NRL and they said he was the hardest person centre to come against in terms of his defence, and that includes Origin players in that mix. He goes about his business quitely but he is valued among his teammates.”

Peters went further in detailing the lengths he and Hull KR went to in securing the signings of the three players.

“All of them could have stayed in the NRL, I know that first hand,” he said. “Jesse especially could have stayed at the Knights, Rhys could have stayed at Parramatta and Tom had some offers as well.

“They just thought it was the right time in their careers to make the move because they have still got their best footy ahead of them.”

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