Hull KR have taken huge strides under Willie Peters, culminating in last year’s treble, and the club’s recruitment has been key to that.
Of the 17 men to play in the Grand Final victory against Wigan in October, just four players were at Hull KR before Willie Peters joined ahead of the 2023 season.
Peters was appointed in mid-2022 to replace the outgoing Tony Smith, hired ahead of the 2023 campaign, with his first competitive game coming against Wigan Warriors.
The Robins won that one 27-18 as captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall scored a hattrick at Craven Park to kickstart the Peters’ era off with a win.
Since then, plenty more wins have come, as well as three trophies with the Robins winning the treble in 2025.
We’ve graded how every permanent signing made under the Willie Peters’ regime has fared at Hull KR with a huge 35 made before the end of last seaosn, as well as a further eight ahead of the 2026 season.
Only players who signed permanent deals are listed meaning a number of loanees have not been included. Those who have signed for 2026 have been graded based on expectations as they’re yet to play any games yet.
Every Hull KR signing under Willie Peters
Pre-2023 recruitment cycle
Yusuf Aydin – E
Aydin failed to make an impact at Hull KR, playing just nine times before departing in a swap deal for current Rovers man Jack Brown.
James Batchelor – A
Few signings have worked out quite as well as James Batchelor has done with the former Wakefield Trinity man becoming one of the best second-rowers in Super League and an integral part of the Hull KR leadership
Rhys Kennedy – D
Another of the first year recruits who didn’t have the desired impact. Kennedy was full of hard work but found himself released at the end of the 2023 season as the Robins made quota space for Jai Whitbread.
Sam Luckley – B
Luckley has grown to be one of the best impact forwards in Super League with his offload game particularly strong. The Geordie has made 87 appearances in his three seasons, including 29 during last year’s treble-winning campaign.
Tom Opacic – C
Opacic impressed in year one at Hull KR but the addition of Peta Hiku saw him feature less in his second season, with the centre leaving at the end of year two with 14 tries in 48 games.
Louis Senior – D
Senior played 17 games in 2023, scoring eight tries, but he never truly established himself as the club’s starter. He’d play once more in 2024 before leaving in a swap deal that brought Jack Broadbent to Craven Park.
Sauaso Sue – A
Sue perhaps took some time to get going but in 2024 and 2025 he’s proven himself to be among the best props in Super League, particularly in 2024. The veteran was another to feature heavily in 2025, making 30 appearances.
2023 mid-season recruitment
Corey Hall – C
Hall joined from Wakefield Trinity midway through 2023 in a move that saw Will Dagger go the other way. Signed as an exciting prospect, Hall only went on to make 10 appearances before being part of the Jack Broadbent swap deal.
Brad Schneider – B
A Hull KR cult hero, Schneider joined mid-season and quickly wrote his name into history books as he slotted two game-winning drop goals in quick succession, against Leeds Rhinos and then against Wigan to send Rovers to the Challenge Cup Final.
Jack Walker – D
Walker was parachuted in during the 2023 season as Hull KR suffered full-back troubles with Lachlan Coote retiring mid-season. The ex-Leeds man made 10 appearances and scored five tries in that time but couldn’t secure a deal for 2024.
Pre-2024 recruitment
Joe Burgess – A
Signed in early 2024 and ahead of the 2024 campaign, Joe Burgess has had a brilliant time of it at Hull KR, scoring 42 in 48 and even earning himself an England recall.
Reiss Butterworth – E
Signed as the third-choice hooker for 2024, Reiss Butterworth didn’t really have a chance to make an impact behind Jez Litten and Matt Parcell. He returned to the Championship at the end of 2024.
Niall Evalds – B
Evalds lit up Super League in early 2024, racing to 15 assists by the mid-season mark but his form levelled out and he was eventually allowed a move to Huddersfield in early 2025 when the Robins signed Arthur Mourgue.
Oliver Gildart – C
A grade of C is perhaps harsh given what he has done on the field but Gildart has missed time in both campaigns, playing just 32 games so far for the Robins.
Peta Hiku – A
There were big concerns early doors about Hiku at Hull KR as the ploy to play him full-back clearly didn’t work but since moving to centre, he’s been one of the best in Super League and one of the best at Hull KR.
Tyrone May – A
May provides the perfect foil for Mikey Lewis and he is one of the better defensive halves in Super League. A top-quality signing.
Kelepi Tanginoa – C
Taningoa fell out of favour in 2025 and has since been allowed to leave but he was one of the best impact players in Super League at times during his two-year stint in East Hull.
Neil Tchamambe – E
Tchamambe didn’t play a competitive game and was allowed to join Wakefield Trinity in a swap that saw Noah Booth arrive at Craven Park.
AJ Wallace – E
Another who didn’t play a competitive game and has been allowed to leave ahead of the 2026 season.
Jai Whitbread – B
Good in 2024, even better in 2025 as he played in all 33 games for the Robins.
2024 mid-season recruitment
Jack Broadbent – B
His versatility is both his strength and his weakness as Broadbent cannot seem to nail down a position, however, he’s helped Hull KR immeasurably since joining midway through 2024.
Jack Brown – D
Failed to make the desired impact since arriving from Hull FC. Made just 15 appearances in 2025.
Ben Reynolds – E
Played two games when the Robins were in a pinch in early 2024 but left to join Hull FC, then Featherstone.
Danny Richardson – E
Played six games across two seasons with his last one ending in injury. Has joined York Knights for 2026.
Pre-2025 recruitment
Tom Davies – A
Few wingers had the impact that Tom Davies had in 2025 with the ex-Catalans man very unlucky to miss out on the Ashes.
Eribe Doro – C
Lots of power off the bench but he couldn’t turn his cameos into a more regular occurrence. Doro has since rejoined Bradford Bulls permanently.
Lee Kershaw – D
Signed as a depth option, Kershaw has played just once for Hull KR, featuring in the Challenge Cup, before a training injury ruled him out for all of 2025.
Bill Leyland – C
Like Reiss Butterworth the year prior, Leyland has found game time harder to come by but he has featured and impressed more with the former London man seen as a long-term option behind Litten.
Rhyse Martin – C
An injury derailed his first year at Hull KR meaning Robins fans couldn’t see the form that had earned him a spot in the 2024 Dream Team.
Michael McIlorum – B
Another who suffered injury in 2025 but what he brought off the field in terms of leadership and winning know-how was invaluable.
Leon Ruan – E
Recruited as a depth option, Ruan didn’t feature for Rovers and has since left.
Jared Warea-Hargreaves – B
Played a key role in the club snapping their trophy drought with his experience adding plenty to the forward pack.
2025 mid-season recruitment
Noah Booth – A
Yet to lose a game when playing for Hull KR with the outside back on a perfect six wins from six games, whilst also scoring seven tries. A talent for the future.
Rowan Milnes – D
Signed to run the opposition team in training and be a back-up option if needed as someone familair with the system. Another who didn’t play.
Arthur Mourgue – B
A very strong addition, replacing Niall Evalds in the early part of the season and going on to be one of Super League’s best full-backs.
Pre-2026 recruitment
Tom Amone – B
If he can rediscover the form that made him a Dream Team player whilst at Leigh then Amone could be a brilliant signing.
Jack Charles – B
With no true depth behind Lewis and May in the halves, Charles looks set to feature at times with the young talent an exciting one.
Jordan Dezaria – C
Hasn’t been a game breaker at Catalans but is a very experienced and consistent forward who adds bulk to the pack.
Karl Lawton – B
Will offer relief for Jez Litten but can also play in the pack as well. Brings NRL experience and looks a savvy signing.
Declan Murphy – C
Chased by a number of Super League sides, Murphy made an impression at Salford and he’s another option behind Arthur Mourgue.
Jumah Sambou – D
Sambou is now 24 and has played just once in Super League and also has a bad injury record, missing much of 2025 as a result of that. A gamble but in a position where a number of players (Hiku and Gildart) are off-contract.
Cobie Wainhouse – C
Like Charles, Wainhouse joins from Hull FC and will offer depth with the young forward having just one career appearance to his name so far but plenty of room to grow.
Tom Whitehead – C
Whitehead has bounced around a lot of teams on loan but Hull KR will hope to help develop him into the quality second-rower that he promises to be.
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