Hull KR recently returned from their brutal training camp in Tenerife.
Hull KR pre-season preparations for the 2026 Super League season.(Image: Hull KR)
Fresh from a gruelling nine-day training camp in Tenerife, Hull KR’s players returned home bruised, bonded and battle-hardened – and with a clearer understanding of what Willie Peters wants his squad to become heading into 2026.
Having completed a historic 2025 campaign, the Robins now face the challenge of sustaining that momentum while planning for life beyond some of their most experienced campaigners. The club’s 2026 recruitment reflects that balancing act – competing now while preparing for the future.
Powerhouse prop Tom Amone arrives as a direct replacement for Kiwi icon Jared Waerea-Hargreaves, while the likes of Tom Whitehead, Jack Charles and Declan Murphy have already had a taste of the top-flight competition, and will be eager for more.
Jordan Dezaria and Karl Lawton add further experience to the pack, with NRL recruit Lawton offering versatility at hooker and in the back-row. Jumah Sambou and Cobie Wainhouse complete Peters’ off-season business.
“Everyone has fit in well, and they’ve quickly understood what we are about as a club,” Peters told Hull Live.
“Players coming in have either wanted to come in and develop – the younger guys – and the older guys like Tom Amone, have come here to win. We need to help them do that.
“The area that we needed to strengthen was bringing more younger players through. We’ve got a squad that is getting older in age, so you need to think about the future.
“In terms of the senior guys, we’ve lost two massively experienced players in Michael McIlorum and Jared Waerea-Hargreaves. Initially, we hadn’t planned for Kelepi Tanginoa to go – then we moved to bring in Karl Lawton, who I think is going to be a great buy for us with his utility value.
“In terms of the seniors, there’s only a couple of changes there. It’s the younger lads we’ve brought in to help us for the now, but also develop for the future.”
Peters is willing to be patient with the club’s youngsters to ensure their development is managed correctly, with the likes of Noah Booth, Louix Gorman, Harvey Horne and Zach Fishwick involved in the first-team setup once again.
Academy product and back-rower Frankie Dearlove has also been promoted ahead of the 2026 season after impressing in the youth ranks.
The Robins take on Wakefield Trinity in their only pre-season friendly at Sewell Group Craven Park this Sunday, before a Challenge Cup third round tie awaits against community club Lock Lane.
“For the young players, there’s no rush for them and we want them to develop the right way,” Peters continued.
“Someone like Jack Charles, he’s 19 and we see him as a player of the future. Cobie Wainhouse, he’s a young front-rower whose best years are ahead. Those guys, who I believe will be Super League players, there’s no rush for them.
“Bill Leyland played 11 or 12 games last year, and that’s how you develop those younger guys.
“He played in the Championship the year before, and had never played in Super League. Bill played in some big games, and it’s all great for his development. We want to have competition for spots, and there’s no complacency.
“We’ve got a settled squad and team, but we want to have young guys putting pressure on those guys and that’s the key to evolving and getting better.”