Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has insisted the focus this week has to be on the 250th derby and not the news of his impending exit.
It was confirmed over the weekend that the Australian will leave Hull KR to link up with PNG Chiefs at the end of the season, bringing a close to his four years in East Hull but Peters has maintained that this week is all about the derby.
He did of course field questions on his own future but again focused on the club and reiterated how enjoyable his time had been, as well as the fact that there remains the key goal of retaining silverware.
Peters said: “We’ve had four incredible years, this being our fourth year, and to leave a club and people that my family and I genuinely care about and who have taken us in since day one, that’s hard to do.
“As I say, my focus and sole focus is ensuring that we finish the year the best way possible. I’ll continue to work as hard as I can to prepare the players, along with the staff, to ensuring that we give this season all it’s got to hopefully win some silverware.”
Hull KR v Hull FC is the ‘biggest derby’, claims Peters
He quickly pivoted away from that topic, instead calling into focus the fact that this week’s game between Hull KR and Hull FC is the 250th between the clubs.
Peters said: “I want the headlines to be about the derby, be about the players and what they did last week, and be about the significance of this game, because it is a huge game.
“I can’t wait. It’s the 250th derby. It doesn’t matter where we sit, where FC sit on the table, it’s always a cracker of a game, full of energy, full of aggression, and I’m looking forward to the banter between the two supporters.”
Rivals Round often sparks debate about which is the biggest derby, an argument that’s almost as old as rugby league itself, but in Peters’ mind there is no question.
He argued: “I’ve been involved in a lot of derbies and I believe this is the biggest one, the best one that I’ve been involved with, so I’m really looking forward to another one this week.”
Asked about the fact this will be his final derby at Craven Park, unless the Robins host FC in the play-off semi-finals, Peters explained that he’s one to embrace every moment as a coach, as he had done for the past three seasons.
“I’ll soak in every game and every moment, I’ve done that since I’ve been here,” he responded.
“I do that whenever I’m in the box or at Craven Park. I’m always grateful to be the coach of KR and nothing will change there.”
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