What Willie Peters said about Wigan Warriors as Hull KR boss champions star for Ashes call-up

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters spoke with the media to preview his side’s clash against Wigan Warriors with plenty on the agenda, including how he plans to replace Mikey Lewis, which player is knocking on the door for an Ashes call-up, and why Wigan are still just as good as they were in 2024.

Peters knows exactly how good Wigan were in 2024 with Hull KR losing out in both the Grand Final and the Challenge Cup semi-finals against Matt Peet’s side, as well as in Round 25 in a game that ended the Robins’ hopes of lifting the League Leaders Shield.

It wasn’t all doom and gloom for Hull KR though as they racked up an impressive win at home in Round Nine and they’ll be hoping to replicate that tonight and pull six points clear of their Grand Final foes.

With Wigan having lost three times already in 2025 (once in the Cup), plenty have suggested that ‘they’re not the Wigan of old’ but Willie Peters slammed that rhetoric earlier in the week when addressing the media.

Hull KR boss champions star for Ashes call-up, reveals “good headache” and

What Willie Peters said about Wigan Warriors

“”I don’t see that they’re not in the same form,” Peters argued, conceding: “They might have lost games but that doesn’t mean that they’re not in form.

“I think Wigan is the same team that they were last year. Obviously they they won four trophies last year, so everyone’s going to judge them on a result. Against Hull FC, they went from dominating that first half then to getting beaten the second half. That’s probably half of rugby league that they weren’t as good or as dominant in.

“Whether that’s credit to Hull FC or whether Wigan thought they had it, but I look at their side and nothing changes in my mind of how we approach this game and what that team and club are about.”

It’s a game that Hull KR will have to approach without their talisman Mikey Lewis, the Man of Steel ruled out with the groin strain that he sustained against Hull FC in the Challenge Cup.

However, that Challenge Cup performance showed that the Robins can win without ‘Magic Mikey’ with Jez Litten playing a starring role. They’ll also have Arthur Mourgue, who was cup-tied, available and Peters debated how he would fill the void left by Lewis.

“There’s a few different options,” he confirmed, adding: “I’ve got a coaching staff and we pick the team together, I’ll obviously have the final say on it, but this is probably the first week where there’s been a lot of different opinions on who plays and what the bench looks like. That’s a good thing to have.”

Hull KR boss champions star for Ashes call-up

Even with Lewis out, Hull KR have spine players to select from including Jack Broadbent, Arthur Mourgue, Jez Litten, and even Danny Richardson, whilst veteran Micky McIlorum will once again feature at hooker.

Specifically on Broadbent and Mourgue, he said: “It’s a good headache to have. There’s a few good headaches here. As a coach and staff it’s always difficult to pick a team when players are in form, but that’s what you want.

“We want to build a squad that has competition for places and if players do miss out, they’ll obviously have an argument of why they should be in. Either way, this week both players wouldn’t look out of place in the 17.”

Jez Litten’s 16-point haul and Man of the Match performance also automatically throw him into the mix for playing alongside Tyrone May, as would Peters’ comments with the Australian raving about his versatile playmaker.

Peters argued: “At the moment he’s not in the mix in terms of that England squad but there’s no doubt that obviously Waney will be looking at him and seeing how consistent he’s playing, because I certainly do, but it’s one of those where it’s early in the season and Jez needs to continue that.

“Jez has a skill set that other hookers don’t have. He can kick, he can pass, he can run, he can hit, he’s a good defender and gets off his line. He’s a lot fitter this year, he’s certainly worked on his fitness and he’s more consistent than he has been.”

We’ll find out tonight exactly how Peters approaches his selection but we’ve made our prediction, including how Wigan will line up side, here.

An unmissable clash 👀

Watch the Robins v the Warriors on @SkySports at 8PM 📺#SuperLeague pic.twitter.com/i8xWjUqfw5

— Betfred Super League (@SuperLeague) April 11, 2025