Willie Peters reaffirms NRL ambitions but insists Hull KR is the ‘right fit’

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has addressed his NRL coaching ambitions but insisted that he’s still fully committed to the cause at Craven Park.

Something that highlighted that earlier this year was his refusal to interview for the Newcastle Knights job and he’s now explained why, when speaking to media whilst in his new role as Australia assistant.

“You can’t apply for a job, whether you get it or you don’t, then go back to your team and ask them to be all in when you’re not all in,” Peters explained to the Daily Telegraph when speaking on his Newcastle snub.

One of the key takeaways was his insistence that any NRL move has to be both the ‘right time’ and the ‘right job’.

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Hull KR still ‘the right fit’ for NRL-interested Peters

For now though, he’s committed to Hull KR though he will be coaching against three of his own players this series and that’s something he’s looking forward to.

“I love them no matter what but they are the opposition now and we want to beat them,” Peters said, making reference to Robins’ trio Jez Litten, Joe Burgess and Mikey Lewis.

“My care and love for them doesn’t change or diminish but we have a job to do and that’s to win an Ashes series. That’s what I’m here for. I will do my job the best I can.”

Impressing in this job when working under former NRL veteran coach Kevin Walters will no doubt aid Peters’ stocks when it comes to an NRL appointment.

But he’s not focused on that, labelling Hull KR as the “right fit” for him but noting that things can change.

“Rugby league changes a lot, doesn’t it? It changes all the time,” Peters said.

“It’s something I want to do,” he said in reference to coaching in the NRL, adding: “Hull KR knows I have ambitions down the track so we will see where it goes.

“It’s fine at the moment. I really enjoy what I’m doing here but there’s no doubt at some stage – at the right time – I would like to coach in the NRL.”

Peters is contracted until the end of the 2028 season and CEO Paul Lakin has recently explained that the club are ‘calm’ on the matter, even noting that it is a ‘good problem’ to have as it means the club are performing well on the field.