Hull KR: 14 contract decisions new coach Willie Peters must make

Hull KR currently have 14 players who are out of contract at the season’s end, so incoming coach Willie Peters will have some big decisions to make in the coming months.

On Monday night, the Robins announced the appointment of Peters on a three-year deal from 2023.

Peters will take over from Tony Smith, who announced in April that he would leave Craven Park upon the expiry of his contract at the end of the season.

Australian Peters will take his first head coaching role after spending six years in the NRL as an assistant coach with Manly Sea Eagles, South Sydney Rabbitohs and Newcastle Knights.

Peters will have a lot of work to cut his teeth in before he arrives. The Robins currently have 14 players on their books who are off-contract at the end of the current season.

Peters will no doubt want to shape the squad to how he likes, and there are 14 decisions to be made ahead of his arrival in 2023.

FULL LIST: Every out of contract Super League player at end of 2022

Scotland international Kane Linnett was one of those off-contract at the end of this year, but he recently extended his stay with KR. The 33-year-old has signed a new one-year deal.

There are five overseas players who are out of contract at the end of the season – Albert Vete (prop), Korbin Sims (prop), Brad Takairangi (utility), Shaun Kenny-Dowall (centre) and Matt Parcell (hooker).

Also out of contract at the end of the season are Dean Hadley, Ben Crooks, Will Maher, Jimmy Keinhorst, Sam Wood and Greg Richards.

The current deals of youngsters Will Tate, Charlie Cavanaugh and Tom Whur are also due to expire at the season’s end.

Out of contract Hull KR players at the end of 2022:

Dean Hadley, Albert Vete, Korbin Sims, Brad Takairangi, Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Matt Parcell, Ben Crooks, Will Maher, Jimmy Keinhorst, Sam Wood, Greg Richards, Will Tate, Charlie Cavanaugh and Tom Whur.

Peters will no doubt want to put his stamp on the team next season and may want to make some signings himself, so it will be interesting to see how the Robins line-up in the post Smith era in 2023.

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