Willie Peters drops major hint on Hull KR team selection for Grand Final

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has dropped a major hint on his team selection for the Grand Final against Wigan Warriors.

After defeating St Helens, it’s confirmed that the Robins will take on Wigan in a repeat of last year’s Grand Final, which Matt Peet’s side won 9-2 to complete a historic quadruple.

This year, Hull KR can complete a treble of their own whilst Wigan are seeking a third straight win at Old Trafford with the match selling itself as ‘Treble or Three-peat’.

Hull KR have learned plenty since this time last year, not least how to win silverware in both one-off games and across a season but beating Wigan will be another matter.

Key to that will be selection and Willie Peters has now dropped a major hint as to the left centre dilemma that he faces, having played Oliver Gildart versus St Helens with the ex-Wigan man earning Man of the Match.

On the decision, Peters said: “It was a tough one on Jack because he has played so well all year and he’s played a number of positions but Jack wouldn’t be a specialist centre, whereas Gilly is a specialist centre.”

Have Hull KR locked in their left centre for the Grand Final?

Peters would reference Gildart as a specialist centre again and highlight moments where the Robins fell short in the 2024 Grand Final, a game where Broadbent was selected over Gildart.

He explained: “I think last year in the Grand Final if you have a look, there were some moments down our left side where we possibly could have scored a try and Jack’s a right-hand carry most of the time who is trying to work on his left.

“On the other side, it’s different because Jack is a right-sided player and he can play on the wing, centre or full-back but Gilly is, I believe, a specialist left centre.”

Backing his decision, Peters said: “That’s what we wanted to bring back in. Gilly was playing really well before the injury and people were talking around England selection and he’s just needed a couple of games to get going and I thought he was excellent tonight.”

After suffering a knee injury at Magic Weekend, Gildart only made his return in round 26, a game that Hull KR lost, before playing in the nervy win over Warrington Wolves to secure the League Leaders Shield.

Having starred against Saints, the former Wigan man can’t rest on his laurels claimed Peters:  “He needs to go up and go again. As individuals, they can’t be happy with just tonight’s performance. The team next week is last year’s champions so we need to go up another level, as individuals and collectively.

“It’s a good foundation for Gilly to work off because I think the last two games were feeling his way back in.

“I think he needed that game to be able to go into such a huge game next week.”

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