We had an absolute ball - Peters' farewell to Hull

Hull Kingston Rovers' most successful coach Willie Peters admits "there's been tears" as his family prepare to bid an emotional farewell to East Yorkshire.

The 47-year-old Australian is returning home with his wife, Kera, and two sons having enjoyed an "instant connection" with locals after bringing a period of unprecedented success during his four years at the rugby league club.

"Hull gets a negative rap with people who aren't from here, they call it all sorts of names," he said.

"Once you come and understand what the city is about, what the people are about and get an appreciation of what this city is truly about, you're going to miss that."

Under Peters, Hull KR made club history by winning the domestic treble last season and in February they were crowned World Champions for the first time.

He said he he had embraced the area and all it had to offer.

"I lived in Beverley, it's a beautiful town and full of good people," said Peters. "Not necessarily rugby league people but just good, genuine people.

"I used to go to a place called Vanessa's Cafe and for a while it was just jacket potatoes.

"I enjoyed that life. Keep it nice and simple and pretty much focus on the things I enjoy and that was family, work and a few different cafes."

Alongside the trophies he won at Craven Park, Peters enjoyed many memorable moments away from the East Hull club.

One highlight was being awarded an honorary degree from the University of Hull last year.

"That was incredible," he said.

"It was something that I never ever thought that I would receive and it was a huge honour."

Peters has also travelled Europe and has attended matches at the Wimbledon tennis championships and Anfield, the home of Liverpool FC.

He said relocating his family from Sydney in the winter of 2022 had proved to be a rewarding life experience.

"Seeing the kids grow, literally my son's now taller than me, which is not hard," he joked.

"They've grown into young men. Mason, he's 14 so, he's going into those important years of his life and he got to experience those key years when you're growing up here and now he's going back a young man. Special."

Peters' next career move will see him become the inaugural Head Coach of Papua New Guinea Chiefs in Australia's NRL, but he said leaving Hull KR was difficult.

"It is emotional. I think I've had moments throughout the year, just different times in the car on the way to games with the wife.

"We've had a lot of stories and there's been a couple of tears and things like that.

"We've had an absolute ball and this place will always be special to us and we've created memories that last a long lifetime."

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