Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has responded to reports that he will leave the Robins to take on the job as PNG Chiefs boss.
It’s a role that Peters has previously expressed interest in and per the latest reports, it’s one that he landed with the Australian expected to leave Hull KR at the end of the season so that he can spend 2027 creating a team for PNG’s inaugural season in 2028.
His agent has already spoken about the possible appointment but when asked by Sky Sports’ Jenna Brooks, Peters refused to comment on the matter.
He responded: “I respect and understand you asking the question Jenna but my focus is here and what we’re doing tonight at the club.
“It’s not for me to put statements out. The club will do that in time. As I said, my whole focus is hopefully getting a win tonight.”
Pushed on if that meant that a statement will come, Peters added: “I’m not sure, we’ll see what the club say.”
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Hull KR season won’t be derailed despite reported impending Peters’ exit
It seems all but certain that Hull KR will be without Peters for 2027 but questions are understandably being asked if their 2026 season could derail, something that Sky Sports’ Jon Wilkin has refuted.
“I don’t think it would. I think the players have got too much professional integrity,” the ex-St Helens man said.
“Willie Peters is an incredible coach so I’d be surprised if it has a derailing effect but it does become a bit of a challenge when you’re talking about recruitment, though I imagine Hull KR have got 2027 boxed off in that regard.
“There was an inevitability to Willie Peters moving on, wasn’t there? It was always something that they were going to have to contend with. I think he’s an incredible young coach who is on the up and up.
“It’s a sad time for Hull KR because he is going to leave but it’s an exciting opportunity for somebody coming in because he’s left it in such a good spot.”
Fellow pundit Sam Tomkins agreed, explaining that he had undergone a similar situation at Wigan and that it in fact helped to motivate players.
Tomkins said: “I don’t think it derails this side at all. I was a player in a similar situation to these Hull KR players.
“When Michael Maguire came to Wigan, he broke the drought and it was actually here at Craven Park when Michael Maguire came into the dressing room and said ‘this is my last year’ and from that point on we knew what he’d done for the club and said we wanted to send him out with silverware.
“That will be the mentality of this Hull KR side. Willie is going to leave but they’ll want to make sure he is finishing on the right terms.”
