Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has shared details of the ‘emotional’ meeting with players where he confirmed he would be leaving the club, with the Australian set to depart at the end of the season to take on the role as head coach of the PNG Chiefs.
Peters, speaking to the media ahead of the 250th derby, opened up his presser by addressing the news that came over the weekend that he would be leaving Hull KR at the end of what will be his fourth season at Craven Park.
“I’ve obviously got mixed emotions,” he said, adding: “Everyone was aware that at some stage in my career, if I got the opportunity to coach in NRL, that I’d like to take that opportunity but it didn’t make my decision any easier.
“As much as I wanted to at some stage coach in the NRL, it didn’t make the decision any easier.”
Talking about why the role at PNG Chiefs, who will become the NRL’s 19th team when they join the league in 2028, was so alluring to him, Peters said: “It’s an opportunity that is so different to any other role. What appealed to me was, you’re representing a country, you’re representing the people of PNG.
“At the moment, my focus is here and we represent the people of East Hull and I’ve just seen how they get behind their rugby league team, so to do that for a country that are absolutely rugby league mad is definitely what appealed to me.”
Hull KR boss explains exit decision
Peters maintained that his current and sole focus is on ending his time with Hull KR by lifting yet more silverware, with the Robins currently holding all four trophies available to them.
KR were able to win the treble in 2025 despite NRL interest in Peters with the Hull KR boss rejecting an interview for the Newcastle Knights gig, and he spoke more about the fact he hadn’t wanted any decision of his to hinder the club.
On his departure, he said: “It was never going to be during a season. I would never have left the club during a season to take an opportunity over there. I was not going to apply for a job that was going to hinder, especially in the 2025 season.
“This one was a process that we went through but I’d let the players know when I had information to tell them and obviously, the club were grateful because it’s now given them time to be able to find a suitable coach for next year.”
As for how the actual conversation went when it came time to telling the players, Peters confirmed that it was an ‘emotional meeting’, stating: “I had conversations with Paul (Lakin, CEO) and then spoke to the team, but it was obviously emotional.
“It was an emotional sort of meeting of me letting them know what I was looking to do, because we built a family environment here. We’re all close and to do what we did last year, it builds stronger connections and stronger relationships.
“It certainly wasn’t easy to let the players know but it sort of gave them clarity around what we’re looking to do and our aim now is just to make sure that we give this season everything it deserves.
“The players obviously did that last Friday night and I want to pay credit to them because it was a difficult week and just the resilience that they showed, I’m extremely proud of, because it could have gone the other way. They went back to being Hull KR and that’s what I’m proud of.”
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Why PNG?
Peters will be in charge of compiling a full squad and staff with the Chiefs, something that he’s pointed to as exciting as it will allow him to create the culture that he feels will be best, something that is particularly important as players and staff will all live together in a purpose-built mini village.
“It’s a unique job, a unique opportunity. It’s not your norm and it has its pros and cons,” Peters explained.
“As a coach, I like to bring people together. I like to help drive culture and with this job you’re starting a new culture and starting fresh. You’re building a roster, you’re building staff, so it’s really important to get the right people in, getting good people in first and creating that family environment.”
Asked about the big attraction to the role, Peters said: “The main (attraction) is the impact you can have on a country. As I said, the impact that we have here on a community is absolutely huge and it’s something I’m proud of.
“It was built long before I started, so to have an opportunity to build that from scratch with the Chiefs is something that attracted me.
“PNG, they’re absolutely fanatical about the rugby league. We love our rugby league here in Hull and from what I’m led to believe, it’s massive, it’s on steroids over there.”
