Willie Peters keeps emotions in check as Hull KR boss talks Wembley, PNG move and success

Whether making ruthless decisions or coaching one last time at Wembley as Hull KR boss, Peters has always put the club first.

Others may view Saturday's Challenge Cup final as the beginning of an emotional farewell.

Peters, typically, is more interested in winning rugby matches.

"Only when you mention it," he laughed when asked whether he had allowed himself to reflect on the significance of the occasion.

"You're that busy week to week that you just don't have time. Hopefully we don't have any weeks off until after the season.

"The whole focus was to make sure that we were playing in this game. Now that we're here, it's about performing well and being the team we can be.

"Nothing changes for me. Every time I sit in that coaches' box, I'm proud as punch of being the head coach of KR. I'm proud of the players and staff.

"I get that feeling of gratitude and support. I'm so grateful to be the head coach of this club.

"There's a lot of motivation. It's certainly not about what I'm doing at the end of the season; it's about what we can do for the city and what the players can do to build their connections with the community forever."

It is perhaps fitting that Peters' Wembley swansong comes against the club that helped shape his coaching identity.

The Australian spent only one season at Wigan Warriors as a player but that experience in 2000 had a strong influence on his approach to leadership and culture.

"I played with Andy Farrell and guys like that," said Peters.

"They were exceptional leaders – proper leaders. When they spoke, you listened.

"Times have changed but you still want a strong leadership group. I wanted to build a team of winners. Anyone who comes to KR, I ask them about their vision and what they want to achieve as a player. If I don't hear that they want to win trophies, they're not the player for us.

"All you want to be as a head coach is a facilitator. You put values in place and if you have the right personnel, they'll take it from there.

"Even when I move on at the end of the year, I know the club is going to be in good hands. The leadership group will put the club in good stead for a long time.

"Then the new coach will come in and put his mark on the place. That's a good recipe."

That long-term thinking underpins the club's ambition to build something lasting.

The search for Peters' successor has now entered the final stages, a process that began in March when the 47-year-old accepted a fresh challenge with the PNG Chiefs.

Peters will leave Craven Park this autumn as one of KR's greatest-ever coaches – and with a clear blueprint for success.

"It certainly wasn't an easy decision," said the quadruple-winning coach.

"What made it easier was the open dialogue with Paul (Lakin, chief executive) and the club. They were aware throughout the process.

"For me, it was about going to the right club. People probably wondered why I chose the Chiefs but I think PNG is going to be on steroids compared to what we've got here at KR.

"The difference is that Hull is a city that loves football and also absolutely loves rugby league; in PNG, it's just rugby league.

"The impact we've had on the east Hull community and bringing that together is what we aim to achieve over there. The foundations we've laid here will certainly work over there.

"Nobody really knew me when I came over here so I had to earn their trust. Winning games helps – but it's more than that.

"You've got to really connect with the community. That's what my family and I did. We made sure that they knew we were here for the right reasons. That's the goal in PNG."

In the here and now, the Robins are preparing to return to the scene of their breakthrough success in last year's Challenge Cup final.

The emotion is never far away but Peters remains clear that there is still more to achieve before his time at the club comes to an end.

"Every week that goes by, I'm obviously closer to moving on from the club," he said.

"What I want to do is enjoy every single moment. I look at the badge at different times or my wife and I see Hull KR come on the telly and we get emotional. There's plenty of time for that, though. We've got to do the business first.

"As a club, we want to experience that winning feeling again. When you win silverware with people that you work with every day, there's really no better feeling. Aside from your kids, you can't beat that feeling.

"To be able to experience that again with people you really care about is enough drive to want to chase it again. Winning is addictive."