His appointment has been made official by the PNG Chiefs.
10:09, 30 Mar 2026Updated 10:10, 30 Mar 2026
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters with the Challenge Cup trophy at Wembley.
Willie Peters has been officially appointed the inaugural head coach of the PNG Chiefs, with his Hull KR exit confirmed just 24 hours earlier.
The all-conquering Rovers boss will leave Super League at the end of 2026 to build the NRL’s newest franchise from the ground up, bringing to a close a remarkable four-year spell in East Hull. His tenure included an unprecedented 2025 campaign for the club.
Peters’ success – highlighted by leading the Robins to global glory with a World Club Challenge victory over the Brisbane Broncos – has made him one of the most sought-after coaches in the game.
PNG Chiefs general manager of football, Michael Chammas said: “This is one of the most important decisions we will make as a franchise. Willie wasn’t just available – he was in demand.
“The fact that he chose the PNG Chiefs, chose this challenge, and chose this country says everything about the kind of man and coach he is. He understands what this means – not just for rugby league, but for an entire nation.
“Tactics win games, but people win premierships. That’s a philosophy which is the foundation of Willie’s coaching career. His ability to connect with players – to genuinely earn their trust and loyalty – is something that we admired.
“That doesn’t stop at the playing group. Willie has a gift for bringing an entire community along for the ride and making people feel part of something bigger than themselves.
“He has done that incredibly at Hull KR, last year producing the most successful season in the club’s history by winning everything on offer. He will also do that for Papua New Guinea, where the connection between this club and its people will be everything.
“While we’re excited for Willie to join the club later in the year, we respect the role he still has to play in leading Hull KR to hopefully another title. We wish him and the Robins all the best for the rest of the season.”
The landmark appointment is not lost on Peters, who recognises the scale of what the PNG Chiefs represent for the nation.
Having previously worked as an assistant coach with South Sydney Rabbitohs, Manly Sea Eagles and Newcastle Knights, the 47-year-old will use 2027 to assemble the club’s inaugural squad, lay its foundations and shape its culture ahead of its first playing season in 2028.
“I believe that what we build with the PNG Chiefs can change the lives of Papua New Guineans for generations to come,” Peters said. “Not many coaches get an opportunity like that. This opportunity transcends rugby league.
“I have enormous respect for the vision Prime Minister James Marape has for his country and what he believes the PNG Chiefs can mean for his people. That moved me and my family.
“I want to honour that vision. I want to be worthy of the faith the NRL and the Chiefs have placed in me, and I want to deliver something that makes every Papua New Guinean proud.”
Before that, however, Peters remains focused on his current task, starting with his final Good Friday derby against city rivals Hull FC.
“The job is not done. I am fully committed to what’s ahead which continues this week in preparing the players for the Hull Derby this Friday,” he said.
“Our goal is always to make our community proud and we aim to do that each and every week.”