Super League 2023: Willie Peters on his journey from selling NRL club sponsorship to Hull KR head coach | Rugby League News

Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Willie Peters is getting ready for his first season within the high job after finishing a protracted apprenticeship, which started with promoting sponsorships for the South Sydney Rabbitohs; watch the 2023 Betfred Tremendous League season reside on Sky Sports activities

Willie Peters all the time meant to grow to be a coach after his taking part in days ended, nevertheless it was two years within the equally cutthroat world of promoting sponsorships that put him on the trail to his first position as a coach. head coach with Hull Kingston Rovers.

The previous Australian scrum-half, whose profession included stints on these shores with Gateshead Thunder, Wigan Warriors and Widnes Vikings, was compelled to hold up his boots aged 26 attributable to harm.

Peters admits he discovered it tough on the time, and slightly than straight into coaching he was taken beneath the wing of South Sydney Rabbitohs CEO Shane Richardson as a part of off-field workers and it proved an eye-opening expertise that continues to serve him nicely.

“I had just a few years away simply to search out myself as a result of I had nothing behind me,” Peters mentioned. sky sports activities. “I went straight from faculty to first grade, so I had a two-year absence, then took my time slowly.

“I grew to become a sponsor with the Rabbitohs. Shane Richardson, who introduced me to Gateshead, was the CEO and he supplied me the position, which was nice for me as a result of I obtained to grasp the opposite aspect of the rugby league enterprise.

“Whenever you play you suppose that is it and that this workforce is a very powerful, however you set all these items collectively and that is what makes the membership work and performance.

“I used to be in control of bringing cash to the membership and there are a variety of functions to that as a result of in the event you do not deliver cash gamers probably do not receives a commission and issues like that. C It was rewarding and it positively helped that I obtained to the place I needed to go as a coach.”

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A glance again at a few of the finest moments from new Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Willie Peters’ recreation days with Gateshead Thunder and Wigan Warriors

When he took his first steps into teaching, Peters rose by the ranks of the U16s, U18s and U20s, to assistant for the Manly Sea Eagles in 2017 after which again to the Rabbitohs two years later, adopted by the Newcastle Knights in 2020.

He has all the time had ambitions to return to the UK to educate, setting his sights on securing a head teaching place within the competitors as a part of a 10-year plan after having fun with his time in Tremendous League firstly of his taking part in profession. .

Peters was barely 20 when he joined Gateshead for his or her one and solely season within the competitors in 1999, studying from extra skilled compatriots like skipper and former Queensland Dwelling State hooker Kerrod Walters and former NRL mainstay Daniel Lee.

“It was an excellent expertise,” mentioned Peters, who moved to Wigan and featured of their Grand Remaining loss to St Helens in 2000 after Thunder merged with Hull Sharks.

I wish to be a part of an formidable membership as a result of we’re within the Tremendous League. It is full time, you wish to win trophies, and that is what you are right here for.

Willie Peters, New Hull KR Head Coach

“That they had a variety of Australian gamers again then, so I realized rather a lot from them and regarded as much as a variety of guys I performed with.

“They had been on the finish of their profession, and I used to be beginning my journey, however I actually loved that 12 months and had the possibility to go to Wigan the next 12 months.

“It was the most effective years of my life; it is a particular membership and we obtained hit on the put up in opposition to St Helens, nevertheless it was a particular second.”

Peters’ teaching profession has additionally seen him study from a few of Australia’s finest, drawing on Wayne Bennett’s deep understanding of rugby league, admiring Anthony Seibold’s process-oriented method and Adam O’Brien’s dedication to rigorous skilled requirements.

Willie Peters labored carefully with a few of Australia’s high managers earlier than becoming a member of Hull Kingston Rovers

Now the person within the high job, Peters arrived in East Hull to take up his new job at Rovers final September, giving his household loads of time to settle in earlier than attending to work on the coaching floor with the workforce forward of Betfred 2023. Tremendous League marketing campaign.

Hull KR and Peters begin the 12 months at residence to his former membership Wigan on Saturday February 18 (1pm kick-off) however greater than something the 43-year-old loves working for an formidable membership in a league residence rugby the place a fierce cross-city rivalry exists with an equally formidable neighbor at Hull FC – similar to again residence in Sydney.

“I come from the Rabbitohs they usually additionally love their rugby league and love the [Sydney] Roosters and rabbits are the identical right here,” Peters mentioned. “I adore it and I like that we’re in a metropolis that loves its rugby league.

“I wish to be a part of an formidable membership as a result of we’re within the Tremendous League. It is full time, you wish to win trophies, and that is what you are right here to do.

“I am not going to make any large statements saying that is what we will do that 12 months, however are we attempting to do it? Completely – and are we attempting to play within the large video games? Sure, we’re .”

The brand new Tremendous League season begins on Thursday February 16 as Warrington Wolves host Leeds Rhinos. Watch 66 matches reside, together with Magic Weekend, play-offs and the Grand Remaining, on Sky Sports activities in 2023 and stream on NOW TV.