Hull KR appoint Cayless as head coach

Hull KR has secured Nathan Cayless as their head coach, signing him to a three-year contract that begins next season. The 48-year-old New Zealander will take over from Willie Peters at the end of the 2026 campaign. Peters is set to move to the new National Rugby League team, Papua New Guinea Chiefs.

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My rugby league coaching philosophy aligns with the hardworking, successful culture that exists at Hull KR.

Cayless, who currently coaches Parramatta Eels' New South Wales Cup team and serves as an assistant coach for New Zealand, stated that his coaching philosophy matches Hull KR's hardworking and successful culture. He highlighted an immediate connection with the club's chief executive, Paul Lakin, regarding their shared vision for achieving long-term success both on and off the field.

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When chief executive Paul Lakin and I first spoke, we connected immediately via our alignment on the vision and philosophies required to produce sustained success on and off the field.

During his playing career, Cayless was a dedicated player for the Eels, making 259 appearances between 1998 and 2010. He captained the team a record 221 times and also led New Zealand to victory in the 2008 World Cup final. Parramatta Eels chief executive Jim Sarantinos commended Cayless's contributions, particularly his role in developing young players for NRL football, and expressed pride in his new head coaching opportunity.

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Nathan has been an outstanding servant of the Parramatta Eels and we are incredibly proud to see him earn this head coaching opportunity.