Get all your news in one place.
100’s of premium titles.
One app.
Start reading
Newcastle Herald
Newcastle Herald
National
Max McKinney

Assistant Knights coach to depart at season's end

DEPARTING: Knights assitant Willie Peters, left, with head coach Adam O'Brien, centre.

Newcastle Knights coach Adam O'Brien will be on the lookout for a new right-hand man with assistant Willie Peters set to leave the club at season's end.

Peters has agreed to become head coach of Super League club Hull KR.

A former Rabbitohs and Dragons player, the 43-year-old joined the Knights as an assistant in 2020.

He will take the reins at Hull for the 2023 season.

"I'm really pleased for Willie, and it's a great appointment that is thoroughly deserved," O'Brien said.

"Not only is Willie a great coach, he is also a great mate. He has been loyal confidant to me, especially in tough times."

O'Brien said Peters had showed attributes required to be a head coach during his time at the Knights.

"Willie has a natural understanding of both the player and the person, he connects well to the entire club through his passion and determination to succeed," O'Brien said.

"These are great traits to carry forward into his head coaching role with Hull KR.

"On behalf of everyone at the Knights, I want to personally thank Kera, Mason and Jaxon.

"They have supported Willie by moving their lives to Newcastle and have become an integral part of our club."

Peters, who spent part of his playing career in the Super League, said he harboured a desire to return to the Northern Hemisphere competition.

"I always had an ambition to go back and coach in the Super League. When the opportunity came up, it just felt right," he said.

"I've got so many good memories of when I played in Super League, I'm just grateful for the opportunity and I can't wait to come back over there.

"I'm joining a team that's well established and definitely on the rise."

The Knights face the Bulldogs on Friday night.

Sign up to read this article
Read news from 100’s of titles, curated specifically for you.
Already a member? Sign in here
Related Stories
Top stories on inkl right now
Our Picks
Fourteen days free
Download the app
One app. One membership.
100+ trusted global sources.