Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has piled the praise on one of his stars, even comparing them to an Australian great of yesteryear after the club’s dominant 32-16 Challenge Cup win against Hull FC.
The Hull KR principle in 2025 has generally been to win the game early with their effort and score the points late but that looked set to go to ruin when Mikey Lewis limped off inside 20 minutes when the game was still scoreless.
Despite that, his replacement Jez Litten took on the starring role, racking up 16 points and putting a Man of the Match performance in despite playing an unfamiliar role.
Hull FC would actually outscore Hull KR in the second-half but the game was won far before that, thanks in large parts to Litten who earned rave reviews post-match from Willie Peters who hailed “the growth in him”.
Peters explained that the best is yet to come, stating: “I think he’s 27 now, but he’ll have a long career and he’ll play well in his 30s and that’s when you’re going to see the best of him, his late 20s and early 30s to mid 30s.”
Willie Peters compares Hull KR star to Aussie great with best to come admission
Jez Litten appreciation post 🤌#UpTheRobins🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/TOYZQv00fI
— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) April 5, 2025
Litten has been playing off the bench once Micky McIlorum has set the platform but he played over an hour in the halves in a game of immense magnitude, in front over over 20,000 fans for a spot in the Challenge Cup semi-final, and looked the calmest man on the pitch.
“Even just taking the goal kicks and seeing how calm and composed he was,” Peters exclaimed.
“We put him in the halves, he’s trained there, so it’s not as if he went in there today but what I was most happy about was there was purpose to what he was doing. Everything he did had purpose, it wasn’t made up, and that’s a really good sign.
“It’s something that the players have been working hard on when there’s chaos, moving positions and putting them in other positions and we handled that today.”
Litten kicked five from six with one of those coming from his own try which Peters claimed he only scored on the back of chasing down his own kick and helping to pin Hull FC deep in their own territory, a play that earned Litten a comparison to an Aussie great.
On that play, Peters said: “They’re the efforts that you look at. 100%. He doesn’t score that try if he doesn’t kick early and then make that tackle.
“Alfie Langer, some people won’t remember him, but he was the king of it. He could just change momentum of games from a kick chase from a half and then make the next two tackles. It was a similar sort of play, wasn’t it? Then obviously off the back of that he took the line on and scored the try.”
Langer was one of the star halves of his day, racking up a then-record of 34 appearances for Queensland as well as over 250 games for Brisbane Broncos, with a 55-game stint for Warrington sandwiched in between.
Hull KR’s “next focus” outlined amidst McIlorum praise
Next Up: Wigan Warriors (H) 🔥
Tune in live on Sky Sports Action from 7:30pm on Friday night! 📺 #UpTheRobins🔴⚪️ pic.twitter.com/5ZdFDE1DsF
— Hull KR (@hullkrofficial) April 6, 2025
Litten playing in the halves meant that veteran Micky McIlorum had to play an 80-minute shift at hooker and those efforts didn’t go unnoticed by Peters either.
“I gave him a massive rap at half time and what he did for us today,” he said of the former Catalans man.
“We value him so much, he’s been playing 30 minutes starting the game but he’s a massive reason of why Jez can come on and do what he does, because he’s doing all the dirty stuff.
“He does all the hard work and Jez is doing that as well when he comes on but the foundation is set from what Micky’s done in that first 30. I thought he was outstanding today.”
Victory over Hull FC means that Hull KR have now made it to seven of the last eight semi-finals in either Super League or the Challenge Cup with 2022’s Super League season being the only blemish on that record.
Flying high unbeaten atop Super League and with a semi-final next month, Peters was asked how he planned to keep a lid on the success and his answer was simple.
“Wigan,” he said with a laugh.
“Wigan on Friday. That’s next. That’s the next challenge or opportunity and obviously it’s a big challenge but that’s our next focus.”
A victory at Craven Park in six days time would be an immense statement to make, especially in the lead-up to another Hull derby on Good Friday.
