Hull KR appoint Cayless as head coach

Hull KR have appointed Nathan Cayless as their head coach on a three-year contract from next season.

The 48-year-old former New Zealand forward will replace Willie Peters at the reigning Super League champions at the end of the campaign.

Peters announced in March that he would be leaving at the conclusion of 2026 to take over at new NRL side Papua New Guinea Chiefs.

Cayless has been coaching Parramatta Eels' New South Wales Cup side and is also assistant coach of New Zealand.

"My rugby league coaching philosophy aligns with the hardworking, successful culture that exists at Hull KR," he told the club website., external

"When chief executive Paul Lakin and I first spoke, we connected immediately via our alignment on the vision and philosophies required to produce sustained success on and off the field."

Cayless spent his entire playing career with the Eels and made 259 appearances for them between 1998 and 2010.

He captained the side a club record 221 times and also skippered New Zealand to success in the 2008 World Cup final with victory over Australia.

"Nathan has been an outstanding servant of the Parramatta Eels and we are incredibly proud to see him earn this head coaching opportunity," Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos said., external

"His work with our program has been invaluable, particularly in developing young players and preparing them for NRL football."

Cayless will look to build on the superb work of Australian Peters.

The 47-year-old replaced compatriot Tony Smith at the end of the 2022 season and has turned the side from one looking to compete for a play-off place into world champions.

The Robins ended a 45-year wait for Challenge Cup success in June last year before going on to win both the League Leaders' Shield and the Grand Final in a memorable campaign.

They then beat Brisbane Broncos in the World Club Challenge at the home of cross-city rivals Hull FC in February this year.

They were beaten by Wigan in this season's Challenge Cup final and sit third in Super League, four points behind leaders Leeds, who they face this week, with a game in hand.

Given the success Willie Peters has enjoyed at Hull KR, it is no surprise to see the Robins plump for another highly rated assistant coach from Australia's elite NRL comp.

Cayless was a fearsome figure as a player but one with authority. He was a long-time captain of Parramatta, leading them to Grand Finals but never quite able to break their long wait for a title.

At international level he also captained New Zealand, famously leading them to 2008 World Cup success among other big leaders like Adam Blair and Benji Marshall.

His main responsibility with Parramatta was pathways, developing talent and moving them through his New South Wales Cup reserve grade side to sharpen them up for the NRL.

This talent identification could be invaluable for Rovers, given the pressures on the wider player pool created by 14 Super League clubs and two new NRL franchises in Perth and PNG all chasing talent.

It also shows a keen eye for bringing through homegrown players, which will be music to the ears of the academy at Craven Park.

Cayless certainly has the aura of someone worth listening to, and his playing career experience will give him plenty of kudos within his new group.

However, this job would be tough for any coach, novice or experienced, given Peters' remarkable run of success and the speed in which he has implemented it, ending 40 years of trophy drought in the process.