Super League head coach reveals need to sign half-back

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has explained his side’s need to sign a half-back to add depth in the position, however, he’s been eager to underline that the Super League club will be diligent in ensuring they sign the right half-back.

Heading into 2024 the Robins were the envy of much of Super League with respect to their playmakers with rising star Mikey Lewis fresh off an impressive series for England, Jordan Abdull looking to head into the season healthy, and new signing Tyrone May arriving after guiding Catalans Dragons to the Grand Final.

Rovers had three legitimate starters which will have created a good problem to have for Willie Peters, particularly in light of the club’s injury crisis in the position last season when Abdull and Rowan Milnes both went down.

That crisis led to the club signing Brad Schneider who turned out to be a revelation but the Australian quickly returned down under after his impressive spell on Humberside, and now with Abdull’s surprise loan move to Catalans it means that Rovers are once again short at the position.

Reports that the club were interested in Luke Gale were shut down by Wakefield Trinity head coach Daryl Powell, before Willie Peters confirmed to Serious About Rugby League that no offer was ever made for the former Man of Steel.

Nevertheless, Peters did confirm that the club were actively seeking a back-up in the position and that they’ll continue to do so stating “that number 18 is for a half-back”.

Hull KR set to fill vacant number 18 shirt

When the Robins confirmed their squad numbers for 2024 they made it clear that the number 18 had been left vacant to accommodate a new signing, but Peters has now confirmed it’s specifically been left for a back-up half.

Last year the shirt was worn by utility back Jimmy Keinhorst who has since moved to Championship York Knights and the vacant jersey will now be saved for “someone that’s going to add value”, per Peters.

He added: “We had some depth there with Jordan and that depth has been sort of taken away a little bit but like you say, we want to sit back and just and just wait for that right person because we showed last year when we did that it was effective as well.

“We’ve still got some cap space here to go get another forward. There’s still money there for that. So we’re going to wait and find the right person there as well.

“But that number 18 is for a halfback. We had Jordan in our squad as that initially, he was going to be fighting it out with Mikey and Tyrone. So we want someone to come in and replace that and be that person that comes in and wants to stay and claim in the team. So we need a halfback and that’s what we’ll be looking for.”

New Hull KR signing likely to be from Super League

One issue that Peters noted in the pursuit of half-back is that the club are maxed out on their overseas quota spots with seven players already.

They had juggled around with their quota players in later 2023 as they released Rhys Kennedy to accommodate new signing Kelepi Tanginoa from relegated Wakefield Trinity.

However, the club are now without a quota spot available following the arrival of other key players such as Peta Hiku and Jai Whitbread, both men returning to Super League.

Commenting on the fact that the club are without quota Peters referenced how that limits the search for a half-back, and that unfortunately no Brad Schneider-esque signing could be made.

Asked if they could target the NRL market, he explained: “Our quotas are full. So we’re looking for an English-based half or an English-born half, that’s off the quotas. So whether that be from someone from Australia or whether it be over here, we’re open to that.”

That would indicate a signing such as Huddersfield Giants’ Tom Deakin whereby they found an NRL youngster who was English-born, or more likely that the club will have to recruit from England.

Given that KR are contenders now they likely won’t be looking at the Championship level, thus their replacement half is likely to come from Super League.

Peters explained that the club would just wait it out for a situation to develop and hopefully try and land their man when the time was right.

“You get situations where it’s probably best that players move on and see an opportunity somewhere else. So that’s what we’re looking at,” the Hull KR boss noted.

“We’re just waiting to see if anything pops up where either players aren’t getting opportunities, or the club feels that they’re probably not right for that club anymore or whatever it may be.”

For now though the club will enter the season without an established back-up in the halves, although the versatility of Peta Hiku and the fact Niall Evalds can cover the Kiwi at full-back indicates the strength that Rovers do have across the field.