Hull KR & Peters fuelled by Grand Final defeat

Willie Peters comforts a visibly disappointed Jez Litten after Hull KR's 2024 Grand Final defeat by Wigan Warriors

There was a positivity about Willie Peters even in the immediate aftermath of 2024's Super League Grand Final disappointment.

The 45-year-old had steered Hull KR to within 80 minutes of a first title since the mid-1980s, only for all-conquering Wigan to shut them out at Old Trafford in a 9-2 victory which swung on Bevan French's magnificent try.

It is the "journey" that Peters spoke about which is expected to continue in an upward trajectory in 2025.

Fuel for their fire is that disappointment, for those who featured; the despondent feeling that permeated the team once the hooter sounded.

"You'd like to think we're not going to lack hunger to get better and improve," Peters told BBC Radio 5 live.

"Falling short and a narrow loss against Wigan last year hurt but it's got to make you hungry to want it, to achieve that little bit extra."

Big names, big expectations

The Robins certainly have not sat on their perch and sulked.

Such is the ambition at Sewell Group Craven Park, long before the club had booked their place in the final some eye-catching recruitment had been secured.

Fearsome New Zealand prop Jared Waerea-Hargreaves has swapped Bondi for East Yorkshire in signing from the Sydney Roosters, while Leeds back-rower Rhyse Martin and spiky Catalans Dragons hooker Michael McIlorum have also bolstered the ranks.

"We're happy with what we've bought in, we've lost a couple of big players, but we're really comfortable with the players we've bought in," Peters said.

"They've fitted into the team extremely well but now's the time we get to watch them play and see where we're at as a team and where those guys are at.

"Certainly, they're going to add a lot of steel to us and experience."

Jared Waerea-Hargreaves comes with a reputation as one of the most ferocious front-rowers in rugby league

With Matt Parcell joining a number of senior players to have departed, such as Kane Linnett, Ryan Hall and Lachlan Coote, finding the right dynamic to add to the leadership group was also a consideration.

Assistant coach Shaun Kenny Dowall has recently committed his future to the club, however, offering some continuity for the season ahead.

"We've lost a couple of big leaders within the group the past couple of years," Peters added.

"The leaders we've got in terms of [captain] Elliot Minchella and James Batchelor are going to be leaders at this club for a long time.

"But we wanted to bring in some experience, and that's why we brought in Rhyse, Jared and Micky."

'The clock is ticking'

In addition to their leadership and experience, the other unifying attribute shared by the three front-line signings is that they are winners.

Waerea Hargreaves won three NRL premierships at the Roosters, Martin was a Challenge Cup winner with Leeds and McIlorum has won both Super League and Challenge Cup in his time.

At 37, McIlorum is nearing the end of his career but sees the switch to East Hull as a way to prolong his time on the field and put himself in the frame for further success.

"I'm not getting any younger, the clock is ticking," he told BBC Radio Humberside.

"I saw what Willie and Hull KR were doing last year when he gave me a call, and I spoke to him. I wanted to be a part of that and I want to try to win something."

With Man of Steel Mikey Lewis weaving his magic, England international Minchella leading the way at loose-forward, a glut of hard-running forwards such as Sauaso Sue and Jai Whitbread, and the dynamism of Jez Litten at hooker, Hull KR are an attractive side with an attacking philosophy.

The lure of working within that group, and with Peters and his staff, helped sway a move away from an enjoyable lifestyle in the south of France.

"I was very comfortable at Catalans, I knew everyone there and my wife and little girl were settled," McIlorum continued.

"So it's been a big adjustment, but it's been good to be under a new coach and be the new kid at school."

Micky McIlorum was a popular figure at Catalans Dragons

'What we did last year won't cut it'

Peters' impact at Hull KR has been a tangibly positive one since taking the reins in 2023.

He guided the Robins to the 2023 Challenge Cup final only to lose in golden point time to Leigh, and backed that up with the Grand Final last year.

The former Souths, Wigan and Gateshead half-back is fully aware that to compete again, and go to the next level, further progression has to be made.

"That's what it's going to take, it will take a little bit more," he said.

"What we did last year won't cut it this year. We're going to have 11 other teams with Wigan amongst that looking to get better. That's our mindset, improving."