It’s hard to believe that Willie Peters has only been in charge of Hull KR for three seasons given the legacy he has already left in east Hull.
The Australian arrived at Craven Park ahead of the 2023 Super League and what he has achieved in that time has been simply remarkable. He led the Robins to the Challenge Cup final in 2023 and the Grand Final in 2024, but he really made history last season as KR won an historic treble.
The head coach has already been honoured in the city of Hull with an honorary degree from the University of Hull and the longer he stays at Craven Park, the bigger his legacy will become.
However, as he prepares for a fourth season in charge of Rovers, we’ve taken a look back at his first game in charge of the club. That came in February 2023 when KR beat Wigan 27-18 at Craven Park.
Here’s what became of that 17-man squad.
Full-back: Lachlan Coote
The 2023 season would be Coote’s last as a player, with the full-back announcing his retirement on medical grounds in the June. He moved back to Australia shortly after and he is now working as a real estate agent in Townsville.
Wing: Ethan Ryan
Ryan left KR at the end of the 2024 season to join Salford Red Devils. Ultimately, he spent a season and a half with the Red Devils before joining the 2025 Salford exodus and moving to Oldham in August. He will be representing Bradford Bulls in 2026.
Centre: Tom Opacic
Despite being contracted for the 2025 campaign, Opacic left the Robins in 2024 to return to Australia. He signed with Queensland Cup Redcliffe Dolphins for 2025 but will spend 2026 playing amateur rugby with Stanley River Wolves.
Centre: Shaun Kenny-Dowall
Skipper Kenny-Dowall scored against the Cherry and Whites that day, but made the decision to hang up his boots at the end of the 2023 season. He took up a role on Willie Peters’ coaching staff but he left Craven Park at the end of the 2025 season for personal reasons.
Wing: Ryan Hall
Super League’s all-time top tryscorer returned to Leeds Rhinos ahead of the 2025 season and he is currently preparing for his 20th season as a professional. Whether this year will be his last, though, remains to be seen.
Stand-off: Mikey Lewis
The first player on this list who remains at Craven Park. Lewis has a place in KR folklore having won the Man of Steel award in 2024, kicked the winning conversion in the Challenge Cup final and scored a try in the Grand Final win over Wigan. His story at Craven Park is far from complete, too, with five more years left to run on his contract.
Scrum-half: Jordan Abdull
Abdull fell out of favour at Craven Park and after spending the 2024 season on loan at Catalans Dragons, he eventually returned to Hull FC. However, the Black and Whites made the decision to cancel his contract before he had even played a game. He is preparing to go into the 2026 season with Widnes Vikings.
Prop: Sauaso Sue
Another who is still at KR, the NRL veteran has made 76 appearances for the club now and at 33, he is readying himself for a fourth campaign in East Yorkshire.
Hooker: Matt Parcell
The hooker made the decision to retire and leave KR at the end of the 2024 season after making 122 appearances in red and white. However, he will be going into 2026 as Queensland Cup player after stepping out of retirement to join Western Clydesdales.
Prop: Rhys Kennedy
Former Brisbane Broncos and South Sydney Rabbitohs man Kennedy joined KR ahead of the 2023 season and made 26 appearances for the club before moving on to join London Broncos. He has now returned to Australia and will represent Albion Park Oak Flats Eagles in 2026.
Second-row: James Batchelor
Another still with the club, Batchelor has gone from strength to strength under Willie Peters and he now finds himself on the peripheries of the England squad.
Second-row: Kane Linnett
Linnett made 110 appearances in five seasons with KR before hanging up his boots at the end of the 2023 season. He took up a player-coach role with Queensland outfit Sarina Crocodiles in 2024.
Loose-forward: Elliot Minchella
The treble -winning captain. Minchella has cemented himself as a Rovers legend and he is now preparing for his seventh season with the club.
Sub: George King
King left the Robins at the end of the 2024 season having made 96 appearances for the club. A move to Huddersfield Giants followed but injury prevented him from finding top form in claret and gold last year.
Sub: Jez Litten
Arguably the best hooker the Northern Hemisphere has to offer. Litten joined KR in 2019 and the progress he has made since then has been staggering. He’s made 156 appearances for the Robins and he’s signed on for another four years at the club.
Sub: Matty Storton
The forward joined Wakefield Trinity at the end of the 2024 season but like King, he struggled with injuries. He’s been given a starting number for 2026 though and he looks set to start in the back-row.
Sub: Dean Hadley
Hadley is another who has made huge strides under Peters, so much so that he was named in the Dream Team in 2025. He was probably unfortunate to miss out on the England squad, too.
