A week before Christmas, the NRL’s next coach-in-waiting celebrated with the most un-rugby league of awards.
Willie Peters, looking a million bucks in a floppy mortarboard, was welcomed on stage at the University of Hull with an honorary doctorate of letters, for his “contribution to sport and the city of Hull” after delivering three titles in 12 months for Hull KR.
In freezing conditions on Friday morning (AEDT), a week after one of the most chastening Super League losses in recent English history, Peters delivered a coaching masterclass and the mother-of-all World Club Challenge upsets.
Hull KR hosted Brisbane as $5 outsiders with bookmakers, spending less than 20 per cent of the $11.95 million salary cap the Broncos can outlay on players.
Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds and co were all kept under wraps in a dogged and disciplined first hour that yielded Hull KR a 30-4 lead.
That they survived the now-bankable Broncos comeback made for a deserved, nail-biting 30-24 victory that continues Super League’s surprise WCC performances, and Peters’ coaching stocks rising even further.
Wayne Bennett has long argued that first-time head coaches – be it in Super League, reserve grade or bush footy – will always be better prepared for an NRL ascension than a highly rated assistant.
Peters’ World Club Challenge lead-in is fair proof. Seven days ago, his reigning Super League champions coughed up a shock 19-18 loss to York, who were playing their first game in England’s top competition.
English star and Hull KR’s attacking linchpin Mikey Lewis was sinbinned and cited for tripping. Peters didn’t miss Lewis or his side afterwards, delivering a public rebuke while everyone else predicted Brisbane rattling up a cricket score.
Instead, Hull KR outstripped the NRL premiers with a near-perfect first half.
“We used last week as motivation for us, because York, they didn’t fear us,” Peters said afterwards.
“I’m sure they respected what we did last year but they thought they could win and they went out and did that. We spoke about that this week… We were the underdogs. Not many people thought we could win. So we wanted to use what [York] did against us.”
Targeting Brisbane repeatedly with largely conservative play through the middle third, Hull KR found the Broncos wanting and eventually wilting under the sharp kicking game that followed their forwards’ charges.
Lewis (who proved a major disappointment for England during the Ashes when Peters was Kangaroos assistant) kicked judiciously along with halfback Tyrone May.
Walsh and Josiah Karapani were repeatedly pinned under high balls hoisted into the 10m x 10m “cage” between their tryline and sideline, with mistakes following.
Hull KR turned 57 per cent of possession into an 18-4 halftime lead before losing fullback Arthur Mourgue and rejigging their spine.
Lewis shifted to fullback but he and May still pulled Brisbane’s back three out of position with a 40-20 and two more tries from kicks, only for Hull KR to then clock off against the world’s most dangerous counterattacking side.
Brisbane’s three tries in six minutes threatened to spoil it all. Had Reynolds (two goals from five attempts) kicked with his usual precision, the miracle may well have been completed.
Instead, Peters looms large as the NRL coaching carousel cranks up again. An affable character, he knocked back an approach to apply for the top job at Newcastle last year based on timing and suitability.
The same circumspect approach served Craig Fitzgibbon, Cameron Ciraldo and Jason Ryles well before taking on their first NRL jobs.
Peters also felt he owed Hull KR the “four or five year” commitment he first spoke of with club powerbrokers when he joined them at the end of 2022.
Since, Hull KR – never one of the English game’s traditional powerhouses – has enjoyed a 74 per cent win record and now boasts a bulging trophy cabinet.
Peters, honorary doctorate of letters and all, has the world at his feet.