Hull KR chief executive Paul Lakin is hopeful of appointing a new head coach in June after narrowing the search for Willie Peters' successor down to a shortlist.

Peters will leave the Robins for new NRL franchise PNG Chiefs at the end of the season as one of the club's most successful coaches having overseen an unprecedented run of success over the past 12 months.

While the decision represents a pivotal moment for the club, Lakin insists that identifying the right personality matters as much as an impressive CV.

"I'm very conscious not to overthink it," he said ahead of KR's third Challenge Cup final in four years on Saturday against Wigan Warriors.

"My formal interviews are informal. It's about getting a gut feeling for the right person. There are certain things we're looking for in the right coach.

"We're in a fortunate position where we don't need to rush. Our retention is virtually done and there aren't many players out of contract so therefore we can't bring many players in.

"We needed a lot of change when Willie came in but we don't now. It's not like players are coming up and we're missing out on them – because we haven't got the space.

"That said, it'd be nice to try and get it sorted in June. It'd be good for me to have conversations in parallel with the new coach alongside Willie this year.

Paul Lakin, left, holds the Challenge Cup aloft with Willie Peters. (Photo: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)

placeholder image — Paul Lakin, left, holds the Challenge Cup aloft with Willie Peters. (Photo: Ed Sykes/SWpix.com)

"We genuinely haven't offered the role to anyone – but I'd like to think it's not too far away. We're down to a shortlist now."

Rovers won their first major trophy in four decades in last year's cup final and return to Wembley this week as quadruple winners.

The task now, according to Lakin, is to ensure Peters' replacement shares the same principles without becoming an imitation of the Australian.

"Four years is a good stint and now it's about getting the right replacement," added Lakin, who appointed Peters as Tony Smith’s successor in 2022.

Paul Lakin chats to media at Tuesday's event in Manchester. (Photo: Olly Hassell/SWpix.com)

"I've been quoted many times as saying we're looking for minimal change. We have our culture, which is really important.

"'The Hull KR Way' has stood us in good stead. There are things everyone has heard before about world-class effort and the one percenters.

"We want a coach that represents that and has the same values – but we want a different personality; we don't want someone to try and replicate Willie because that's dangerous.

"By and large, defence wins trophies. We want someone who believes in that."

Rather than fearing disruption, Lakin points to St Helens as proof that the right appointment can elevate an already successful side.

Ultimately, the deciding factor will be ambition and belief.

"You need a coach who really wants it," said Lakin.

"You look in the eyes of a few of them and you get the sense that they're thinking, 'Where do I take this?'

"We've got to make sure we get a coach who embraces what we've achieved and wants to take it on. It's like when Kristian Woolf added five per cent to what Justin Holbrook had done at St Helens and took them to another level."