Hull KR captain Elliot Minchella has issued a rallying cry to his teammates, urging them to ensure head coach Willie Peters departs the club with Challenge Cup silverware. Peters, who has transformed the Robins into genuine title contenders, will leave at the end of the season to take up the head coach role with the Papua New Guinea Chiefs, a move confirmed by the club this week.
Speaking after training on Thursday, Minchella said: 'Willie has been immense for this club and for every single player in that dressing room. We owe it to him to give everything we’ve got in the Challenge Cup. There’s no better way to say thank you than lifting that trophy.' The Robins, currently third in the Super League standings with 28 points from 16 games, face a quarter-final tie against Leigh Leopards later this month.
Peters, 44, took over at Craven Park ahead of the 2023 season and has overseen a remarkable turnaround. Hull KR reached the Super League play-offs last year and have maintained that momentum this term, winning nine of their last 11 matches. His departure to the Chiefs, an expansion side set to join the top flight in 2026, was described by the club as a 'landmark moment' for rugby league in Papua New Guinea.
The Challenge Cup holds a special place in Hull KR folklore, with the club last winning the competition in 1986. Minchella, a lifelong fan and academy graduate, acknowledged the weight of history. 'We know what it means to the fans, and now we know what it means to Willie. We want to send him off as a legend, and winning the Cup would do that,' he added.
Hull KR’s director of rugby, Jon Sharp, confirmed the club is already drawing up a shortlist of potential replacements but insisted the focus remains on the current campaign. 'Willie leaves with our full blessing, but the job isn’t done yet. The players are determined to finish the season on a high, and the Challenge Cup is very much in our sights,' Sharp said.
Source: Hull KR official club statement and press conference quotes.