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Analysis: Breaking down a coaching masterclass from NRL’s next man up
A week before Christmas, the NRL’s next coach-in-waiting celebrated with the most un-rugby league of awards.
Willie Peters, looking a million bucks in a floppy mortarboard, was welcomed on stage at the University of Hull with an honorary doctorate of letters, for his “contribution to sport and the city of Hull” after delivering three titles in 12 months for Hull KR.
In freezing conditions on Friday morning (AEDT), a week after one of the most chastening Super League losses in recent English history, Peters delivered a coaching masterclass and the mother-of-all World Club Challenge upsets.
Hull KR hosted Brisbane as $5 outsiders with bookmakers, spending less than 20 per cent of the $11.95 million salary cap the Broncos can outlay on players.
Reece Walsh, Payne Haas, Adam Reynolds and co were all kept under wraps in a dogged and disciplined first hour that yielded Hull KR a 30-4 lead.
Hull KR celebrate their World Club Challenge upset victory over Brisbane.Credit: Getty Images
That they survived the now-bankable Broncos comeback made for a deserved, nail-biting 30-24 victory that continues Super League’s surprise WCC performances, and Peters’ coaching stocks rising even further.
Wayne Bennett has long argued that first-time head coaches – be it in Super League, reserve grade or bush footy – will always be better prepared for an NRL ascension than a highly rated assistant.
Peters’ World Club Challenge lead-in is fair proof. Seven days ago, his reigning Super League champions coughed up a shock 19-18 loss to York, who were playing their first game in England’s top competition.
English star and Hull KR’s attacking linchpin Mikey Lewis was sinbinned and cited for tripping. Peters didn’t miss Lewis or his side afterwards, delivering a public rebuke while everyone else predicted Brisbane rattling up a cricket score.
Instead, Hull KR outstripped the NRL premiers with a near-perfect first half.
“We used last week as motivation for us, because York, they didn’t fear us,” Peters said afterwards.
“I’m sure they respected what we did last year but they thought they could win and they went out and did that. We spoke about that this week… We were the underdogs. Not many people thought we could win. So we wanted to use what [York] did against us.”
Targeting Brisbane repeatedly with largely conservative play through the middle third, Hull KR found the Broncos wanting and eventually wilting under the sharp kicking game that followed their forwards’ charges.
Lewis (who proved a major disappointment for England during the Ashes when Peters was Kangaroos assistant) kicked judiciously along with halfback Tyrone May.
Walsh and Josiah Karapani were repeatedly pinned under high balls hoisted into the 10m x 10m “cage” between their tryline and sideline, with mistakes following.
Hull KR turned 57 per cent of possession into an 18-4 halftime lead before losing fullback Arthur Mourgue and rejigging their spine.
Lewis shifted to fullback but he and May still pulled Brisbane’s back three out of position with a 40-20 and two more tries from kicks, only for Hull KR to then clock off against the world’s most dangerous counterattacking side.
Brisbane’s three tries in six minutes threatened to spoil it all. Had Reynolds (two goals from five attempts) kicked with his usual precision, the miracle may well have been completed.
Instead, Peters looms large as the NRL coaching carousel cranks up again. An affable character, he knocked back an approach to apply for the top job at Newcastle last year based on timing and suitability.
The same circumspect approach served Craig Fitzgibbon, Cameron Ciraldo and Jason Ryles well before taking on their first NRL jobs.
Peters also felt he owed Hull KR the “four or five year” commitment he first spoke of with club powerbrokers when he joined them at the end of 2022.
Since, Hull KR – never one of the English game’s traditional powerhouses – has enjoyed a 74 per cent win record and now boasts a bulging trophy cabinet.
Peters, honorary doctorate of letters and all, has the world at his feet.
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Stats: How Hull KR knocked off Brisbane
Full time: Hull KR douse Broncos comeback in stunning boilover
Mikey Lewis with a poor chip kick and Reece Walsh latches onto it. Deep inside his own half. Spies space out wide and tries to find Josiah Karapani. The pass is wild though and it’s knocked on. Game over. Hull KR win. Repeat, Hull KR win.
Sold-out contest and an incredible effort from Willie Peters and Hull KR. They are by no means one of the English game’s glamour clubs. They’ve just dusted the biggest outfit in the NRL. Ten tries and Adam Reynolds’ two conversions from five tries proves the difference on the scoreboard. For 60 minutes Hull KR were the dominant side, no doubt. Deserved win.
Broncos 24 Hull KR 30
The last frantic minute
Brisbane throwing the ball around with abandon. As you would. Last tackle, Ezra Mam attemps a short grubber under pressure. It’s not a bad one but he can’t chase after succumbing to the defence and it dribbles dead-in-goal. One minute left. Hull KR trying to wind this down. Brisbane should get the ball back.
Broncos 24 Hull KR 30
Try: Staggs sets up nailbiting finish
And Kotoni Staggs is over.
Quick hands eventually stretches the Hull KR defence too far and we’re on for a grandstand finish with three minutes to play. Adam Reynolds misses the conversion! Wasn’t the easiest of kicks, but you’d back him nine times out of 10 most days to kick that one. Six-point game.
Broncos 24 Hull KR 30
Shibasaki almost scores a stunner
Inside the final five minutes we go. Hull KR have stemmed the bleeding. Brisbane with plenty of razzle and dazzle. Short side raid by Ben Hunt on the last tackle.
It’s a beautiful chip kick into the corner. Shibasaki flying onto it, gets a hand to it but can’t hang on. Hull KR defence just scrambles to deny the hat-trick and what would’ve been a fantastic try.
Mikey Lewis stuffs up a kick for touch from a follow-up penalty though. Brisbane attacking again. Inside four minutes now.
Broncos 20 Hull KR 30
Spectacular Boncos play breaks down
Brisbane’s attacking raids have stopped yielding automatic points. They were on track for four tries from four sets. Another crack at the Hull KR line breaks down though. Reece Walsh is rushed up on and his no look pass goes astray, flies over the sideline. Eight minutes to play.
Hull KR respond with a no-nonsense set that pins Brisbane on their line – the type of play they completely forgot for the past 15 minutes.
Broncos 20 Hull KR 30
Brisbane Broncos’ Kotoni Staggs is tackled by Hull KR’s Tom Amone.Credit: AP
Try: Brisbane score a third in five minutes
Yep, this is it. They’re in again. Hull KR have gone to water. Brisbane with all the running and a third try in five minutes. Reece Walsh with a brilliant ball across the face of two defenders and Gehamat Shibasaki has his second of the match.
Adam Reynolds rattles the woodwork (yes, posts are no longer made of wood, just go with it) again though with the conversion attempt. So it’s a 10-point game.
Broncos 20 Hull KR 30
Try: Broncos long-range effort sparks threat of comeback
Is this it? Are we on here? Brisbane might just be with two tries in as many minutes. Second play of the set, Broncos go wide and Deine Mariner speeds past both his man and the cover defence.
Hull KR in danger of clocking off. Margin is 14 with 16 to play. Strap in people. A missed conversion from Adam Reynolds means they’ll have to score at least three times to pull off this miracle.
Broncos 16 Hull KR 30
Tries: Hull KR crack 30 inside an hour
And another. Forget the comeback. Time to worry about the scoreline. Brisbane are on the rack. Mikey Lewis – such a livewire, such a disappointment during the Ashes – sets this one up with a fine 40-20.
From the following set, Tyrone May rolls in yet another grubber and it’s former Kiwi centre Peta Hiku diving over.
Brisbane trim the lead back – they can’t afford anything else – through Pat Carrigan of all people. Lazy middle defence sees Ben Talty break through in the middle with Carrigan looming in support.
Broncos 10 Hull KR 30
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Disclaimer : This story is auto aggregated by a computer programme and has not been created or edited by DOWNTHENEWS. Publisher: www.smh.com.au
