World champion coach Willie Peters to leave Hull KR for inaugural PNG Chiefs role

Willie Peters has been tipped as potential inaugural coach for PNG Chiefs

Hull KR has confirmed that head coach Willie Peters will depart the club at the end of the 2026 Super League season to return to Australia and take up a coaching opportunity in the NRL.

The announcement comes amid widespread reports that Peters has agreed to terms to become the inaugural head coach of the PNG Chiefs, spearheading Papua New Guinea's historic entry as the NRL’s 19th franchise in 2028.

Peters’ departure will conclude a highly successful four-year tenure at Sewell Group Craven Park. Under his guidance, the Robins experienced a modern renaissance, culminating in a historic 2025 campaign and a World Club Championship victory over the Brisbane Broncos.

Hull KR owner Neil Hudgell expressed his gratitude for Peters' contributions, saying the coach gave the club ample notice to find a successor."As the coach of the World Club Champions, he deserves to go out on his terms, with our respect, appreciation, and best wishes," Hudgell said. "Willie Peters led us to the most successful season in the history of Hull Rugby League in 2025."

Willie Peters led Hull KR to Super League premiership and World Club Championship victory

Hudgell said the interest in Peters from the NRL is a testament to the elite culture the club has built.

Peters, who reportedly beat out high-profile candidates like Brad Arthur, Adrian Lam, and Jason Demetriou for the highly coveted PNG role, admitted that leaving East Hull was a tough decision to make despite his long-standing ambitions.

"I’ve made no secret of my desire to coach in the NRL as the next step of my career, however it makes this decision no less difficult," Peters said, thanking the board, staff, players, and fans for their support over the last four years.

While Peters will finish out the 2026 season with Hull KR, his expected move to the Chiefs allows him to spend the 2027 season building the club's foundation culture and recruiting an inaugural roster before kicking off in 2028.

Both Peters and the Hull KR board emphasized that their immediate focus remains entirely on the current English Super League campaign. Peters' next task is preparing the squad for this Friday's highly anticipated Hull Derby.