Hull KR

Willie Peters makes Hull KR ‘mentally ready’ claim and comments on Steve McNamara’s post-match anger

by
Will Jackson
May 12, 2025

Hull KR are mentally ready to win their first major trophy in the summer era, says head coach Willie Peters. The Robins secured their spot in a third major final in as many years on Saturday as they saw off Catalans Dragons with ease to reach the Challenge Cup final, where they will face Warrington Wolves.

The Robins were last at Wembley in 2023 when they lost to Leigh Leopards in the cup final and last season they played Wigan Warriors in the 2024 Grand Final. Both losses were agonisingly close, but Rovers ultimately went home empty handed.

This year feels different, though, with the club top of the Super League table and regularly blowing teams away. And, with their first major final of the season coming up, Peters believes KR are prepared enough to end their 40-year trophy drought.

“We’ve been ready mentally for a long time,” Peters said. “We got beat against Leigh and then we won next six or whatever it was. Wigan beat us last year. We’ve gone on to start the season the way we had. But there’s been so much in between.

“This team’s a fighting team, they’ll fight. They’ll fight for the trophy in three weeks’ time, there’s no doubt about that. So whether we’re ready or not, we’ll see. It’s the actions that determine that, but we’re certainly ready in terms of giving ourselves an opportunity.”

Addressing the press, he added: “You guys are writing it all the time, there’s going to be expectation and pressure now no matter what.

“There’ll be pressure in three weeks’ time because we haven’t won a trophy.

“I think the players have handled it really well and I think they probably handled it in the game today. When it was 12-10, that’s when the pressure was really on. For me, you look at that and you see there’s a lot of growth in this team from where we were.”

Hull KR boss on Steve McNamara comments

Peters was speaking at the LNER Community Stadium moments after his Catalans counterpart Steve McNamara had expressed his anger about the way the game was refereed, claiming his side’s only penalty came when Rovers kicked the ball out on the full.

“I mean, if I’m the opposition coach and we’re not getting one then you’re probably asking why,” Peters said when asked about the comments.

“But, yeah, I thought the ruck was was pretty slow in general, there’s no doubt about that. I mean we work we work hard, like Catalans, do as well to win the play the ball when you’ve got it and obviously defensively you want to slow it down.

“So, I can understand Steve saying that if they didn’t get one. That’s probably one where you’d have to look through it and go and ask the question really but I thought the ruck in general was pretty slow.”