PETERS CALLS FOR GREATER WILL-POWER
SHAUN AGAIN
27 18 WILLIE PETERS will encourage his Hull KR side to aim high after watching them start the Super League season in style against Wigan.
Shaun Kenny-dowall scored a hat-trick in a stirring win for Rovers, whose only negatives were injuries to Ryan Hall and Rhys Kennedy that are set to keep them out of Thursday evening’s trip to Salford.
Peters, who replaced Tony Smith as head coach in the close season, is convinced his new club must target silverware after too many years in which mid-table finishes were often seen as a benchmark of success.
“The big thing for our club is the lack of belief that we can really do something, which has really held us back over a few years,” said Peters (above).
“It’s probably why we haven’t won a Super League title and been in Grand Finals. We need to win more games like this so we can start building that belief.
“I know things can change pretty quickly and we’ll keep our feet on the ground, but I’m delighted with the result.”
Peters confirmed winger Hall was brought off at half-time with a rib injury, while debutant Kennedy faced a precautionary trip to hospital after being flattened for a lengthy period in the second half.
And he reserved particular praise for 35-year-old Kennydowall, who reverted from centre to fill Hall’s role on the wing and grabbed the crucial final try that ended any hopes of a Wigan recovery.
“Shaun’s been doing it now for quite a few years in the NRL and over here, and he’s our inspirational leader,” added Peters.
“We had some adversity with Ryan going off at half-time, and Shaun went on the wing and handled it like a true leader would.”
Wigan head coach Matt Peet said his side were “second best” in all departments and admitted it never looked likely they could snatch what would have been an undeserved victory.
Kennydowall ended that lingering possibility after Wigan had narrowed the deficit to five points, and Peet will focus on demanding improvements from his side ahead of Friday’s clash with relegation favourites Wakefield.
Peet said: “I thought we were second best.
“With the ball we probably overplayed our hands at times.
“We do encourage our lads to express ourselves, but sometimes we overdid it.”
HULL KR: Tries: Hall, Kenny-dowall (3), Linnett Pen: Coote Cons: Coote (2) Drop goal: Abdull
WIGAN: Tries: Marshal, Field, Pearce-paul, Wardle Con: Smith