Hull KR's Willie Peters on handing his house over to Challenge Cup final foe Adrian Lam
The Aussie is bidding to win at Wembley in his first season in charge but recollects moment more than 20 years ago when current Leigh boss Adrian Lam replaced him at Wigan in more ways than one
HULL KR boss Willie Peters once had to hand over the keys to his house to Leigh counterpart Adrian Lam - but has no intention of giving up his Challenge Cup dream quite so easily.
Thousands of miles away from their homelands, they go head-to-head in the Wembley showdown on Saturday. KR - with Aussie Peters in his maiden season as a head coach - are intent on lifting the famous trophy for the first time in 43 years. But Papuan Lam’s brilliant Leigh have been one of the great sporting stories of 2023. They play a first Challenge Cup final since 1971, are flying high in Super League following promotion and are reaping the rewards of their wacky ‘Leopards’ rebrand.
It’s strange to think, though, that their paths crossed in an entirely different scenario in 2000. Peters, who was heading back to Sydney after a year playing scrum-half for Wigan, recalled: “Lammy actually replaced me in that Warriors side after I’d gone home. But I was also in a house and Adrian moved into the same house straight afterwards, too.
"We did spend a bit of time together. We got to know each other well when I went to Widnes the second time I came over to the UK. We hung out with mutual friends. I’ve always had a lot of respect for Adrian. He was one of the best halves playing when I was. I’ve known Lammy a long time - and it’s cool to be able to be coaching against each other now at Wembley.”
What will be even cooler is if Peters, so soon after arriving at Craven Park, can mastermind only the second Challenge Cup final win in the East Yorkshire club’s history. Rovers are slight underdogs but the ex-South Sydney star isn’t fussed by that. And, regularly spotted watching games with his kids Mason, 10, and Jackson, six, he’s got plenty of support behind him.
Peters, 44, said: “The boys do love their rugby. But I’m a believer in the only way you’re successful in this game is by being obsessed with it. And I am a footy nerd. We went to watch Wakefield v Warrington the other week. And then Leigh at Leeds on Sunday. Mason was telling me what to do and what plans to come up with for Wembley - but I’m in trouble if we listen to that!
"I did say when we came over they’d get some experiences they’ve never had. Obviously the crowds are good back in Oz but nothing compared to the crowds here in England. They’re so loud. Jackson, my youngest, sings the Robins song through the house and has a little thing going. If he starts singing in the morning on gameday without me saying anything we’ve been getting the result so I just hope he does it this weekend."
Leigh have beaten KR 30-25 and 34-4 this season but Peters does believe his side have the firepower to down their opponents. He said: "It’s no fluke why they’re in a Challenge Cup final. They’re third in Super League and have a lot of threats. For us it’s worrying about us and what we can control. We just got beat on the bell in the first game with them but the second one we didn’t get off the bus. We haven’t been us against them yet. That’s what I’m looking forward to: us going and being KR. If we do that we’ve got every chance. It’s about getting us right. It’s great we’ve got to Wembley but the job’s not done yet.”
