Hull KR star James Batchelor has revealed the impact Willie Peters has made on both him and the Robins, after the news dropped at the end of last month he would be departing the club.

Peters will move to Papua New Guinea to be the inaugural head coach of the PNG Chiefs ahead of their inclusion in the NRL in 2028.

His exit will round off a sensational four-year stint as head coach that has seen them win every trophy on offer to them over the past 12 months, and with the Challenge Cup quarter-finals coming up this week a win over York will take them one step further to achieving even more silverware.

Batchelor in undoubtedly in his career-best form at the Robins, something he puts down to Peters’ influence. The back rower has been one of the standouts in his position for the couple of seasons, and it is clear to see he is thriving under Peters’ management.

“He’s taken me to another level,” Batchelor said to the press as he previewed the Good Friday derby against Hull FC last week. “He demands a lot of people as individuals and the group as a collective and really drives that day-to-day and it’s no surprise that he’s got the success that he has.”

On the boss’ exit as a whole, he said: “I’m obviously happy for him. When he first came over, he said it was his long-term goal and he’s achieved it, but we’re not finished yet.

“[Peters’ exit] has changed nothing for this year. We’ve all got the same targets, the same aims, and we just needed to kick-start the season properly and I think we did that.”

The departing Hull KR coach has been tipped for success down under, and is expected to thrive in his first top role in the NRL.

“Off top of my head, I think he’ll be good,” said Batchelor. “I’ll back him to go and succeed over there. Obviously, I’ve never played over there, I don’t know what it’s like, but his attention to detail and everything, everybody who’s been over there speaks about him and speaks highly, so I’ll definitely back him.”

The Robins will be hoping to cap off Peters’ time at Craven Park with more trophies this season, with the playing group all now having extra motivation for success in 2026.

Batchelor explained: “He definitely deserves it to end this season and go out that way [with more trophies], but like I said, that was his aim before, this news hasn’t changed anything.

“It’s business as usual for us, whatever happens behind the scenes and off the field happens, but what we can control is what happens on the pitch and what we’ve been working towards since day one of pre-season and that’s not changed.”

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