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Premiership-winning Hull KR coach Willie Peters is poised to become the inaugural coach of the PNG Chiefs.
Peters is yet to sign a contract, but is the preferred candidate and has told his players of his intention to take the job. The former Dragons and Rabbitohs halfback has pipped Brad Arthur, Jason Demetriou, and Adrian Lam for the job at the team that will enter the NRL in 2028.
Peters has been considered the next NRL coach-in-waiting after taking Hull KR to the last two Super League grand finals, winning the 2025 decider against Wigan. The 47-year-old further enhanced his credentials with his role as assistant Kangaroos coach and a World Club Challenge win against Michael Maguire’s Brisbane Broncos in February.
The Australian Rugby League Commission decided Peters is their pick for the Chiefs role, and only a breakdown in contract talks would result in him not getting the job.
“It was a very rigorous process; we would have been very happy with any of the other candidates who interviewed brilliantly,” ARLC chair Peter V’landys said.
“Any of them would have done a good job, but Willie was the one who really impressed the sub-committee. I was so impressed with Willie when I met him as the assistant coach to the Australian Kangaroos.
“He’s very personable, very professional, and very focused. I was impressed from the moment I met him.
“His record speaks for itself. He’s won the Super League, he beat the Broncos, was assistant coach of the Australian team that won 3-0 against England. He is the up-and-coming coach who will add significant value to PNG.
“He deserves his chance in the big time.”
V’landys said Peters was well-equipped to take on the role of promoting the game in league-mad PNG.
“That is one of his strengths, how personable he is,” he said.
“That’s a characteristic you need for this job in PNG, you need to be able to deal with people respectfully, and he will do that.”
The appointments of Peters and general manager of football Michael Chammas to the Chiefs has them ready to enter the player market and begin assembling their inaugural roster.
