Hull KR coach Willie Peters gives view on Coach of Year concept and club's journey

Picture by Olly Hassell/SWpix.com - Hull KR head coach Willie Peters
-Credit: (Image: Reach Publishing Services Limited)


Hull Kingston Rovers head coach Willie Peters believes that recognition from peers helps make Super League Coach of the Year feel like a special award, on an afternoon when he was later confirmed as a nominee for it.

Peters has been in charge at a time when Rovers are enjoying their best period in decades and this season's second place finish in the regular season has led to him being named on a four-man short list that also includes Wigan Warriors' Matt Peet, Salford Red Devils' Paul Rowley and London Broncos' Mike Eccles.

Speaking in his Tuesday afternoon press conference, shortly before Super League announced the list, he was asked if the input from peers makes it special for those recognised for their work. Peters replied: "Of course. Anyone that acknowledges that, whether it's coaches, or players' player, or players are nominating a leadership group, or anything like that, of course when it's your peers and people you work with it's rewarding."

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Earlier he had been asked if it is nice for coaches to be recognised with these events and said: "It is but I think when you've got a big staff like we do, and other coaches do, they are the ones that help coaches achieve awards. And whether it's this, players, Man of Steel, it's not just that one person, one individual. That's the person who will get the award which is great but there are a lot of people that help get that, and I'm sure other coaches would say that as well.

"This club's progress has been great, there's no doubt about that, but we are still on our journey, and that journey is not complete yet for this year. After the season, we'll look back and see where are are and what we did well and what we need to improve regardless of where we finish and we'll always do that and we'll look to improve next year. We've come a long way, there's no doubt about that, but we are not content with where we are. We are in a position now to go to Old Trafford now and that's naturally where we want to be. "

Asked if it would give him satisfaction to be on this year's short list, he replied: "It's not about me. The players are the ones that do the hard yards and, if I'm nominated, naturally I'd be honoured, there's no doubt about that."

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