Willie Peters explains Hull KR recruitment focus with three signings highlighted

Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has explained the rationale behind the club’s recruitment process and named three men who’ve shone so far.

The majority of the Super League clubs to make a huge number of signings were those who finished at the wrong end of the Super League table or entered with both Hull FC and Wakefield Trinity making double-digit signings.

Hull KR were not far behind with the Robins making a whopping nine signings on the back of their Grand Final appearance in 2024. Of those nine, there is a clear split between youth and experience with the quartet of Bill Leyland, Eribe Doro, Leon Ruan and Noah Booth depth options and stars for the future.

There are also vets such as Micky McIlorum, Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and true Super League stars like Tom Davies and Rhyse Martin and Peters has explained that the focus of the recruitment was primarily to target experience given those who Hull KR lost at the end of 2024.

Speaking to the media, he explained: “We obviously lost Ryan Hall who had a lot of experience, Matty Parcell as well, so they gave us a lot of experience and they’d been there and done it and been in situations before so I definitely wanted to bring in players that were going to add to the squad in terms of experience like Micky McIlorum.”

McIlorum got a glowing review with Peters stating: “When he talks he doesn’t waste his words. He might not say a lot, but when he does talk, it’s got so much substance to it and purpose behind it. It’s invaluable to bring in someone like that, who has played in big games and just again, similar to Hally, just knows what to say at the right times because he’s been there and he’s done it.”

Willie Peters explains Hull KR recruitment focus with three signings highlighted

McIlorum is no stranger to a Grand Final with the former Wigan and Catalans man winning two and playing in a further three but he’s not the only man who has been there, done it, and got the t-shirt.

Hull KR made a big splash when they confirmed NRL icon Jared Waerea-Hargreaves as a signing and understandably so with the Kiwi enforcer making over 300 NRL appearances and winning three Grand Finals. Both he and Rhsye Martin were named by Peters as “key” to taking the club to the next level.

Peters argued: “Jared’s exactly the same (as McIlorum) so we’re very fortunate to be able to bring in those guys and Rhyse Martin so to answer your question, yeah, we wanted to bring in experience and help us get to that next level. That’s the key.

“When you’ve got experience around the group, it just builds that confidence and belief within the group because as I said, they’ve been there, they’ve been part of it before.

“The majority of our squad now, they’ve played in big games. They’ve played in the Challenge Cup Finals and Super League Grand Finals so there’s no doubt they’re going to be better for it. So we work towards being in another one, it’s a long way off but they’ll be better for that.”

With the experience and quality of McIlorum, Waerea-Hargreaves and Martin outlined, Peters was asked about his other recruits and if any had particularly caught the eye and three got specific mentions.

“I think all our signings have brought something,” he argued before adding: “Tom Davies has been outstanding in the preseason, he’s looking fit and strong so he’s gonna help us in the backfield but also finish in tries.

“I’ve been really happy with young Bill Leyland who’s coming back from an ACL. He’s only at the start of his journey. He’s got a lot to learn and develop but I’m excited to see where he can go.

“Eribe Doro is a powerful player and he’s had a good pre-season. Obviously the key for him now and the same with Bill is consistency because they haven’t been part of that Super League environment and that does take time to be consistent on that level so yeah I’m excited to see where those two can go.”