Hull KR head coach Willie Peters has explained what the new Super League quota rules mean for his side going forward into 2026.
It was confirmed on Friday that from 2026 onwards Super League clubs will be able to register a maximum of ten overseas quota players, with that figure jumping up from seven.
Having been proposed previously, it’s something that Willie Peters has already spoken about and the Hull KR head coach has had his say once again.
In early July, the Hull KR boss argued that clubs need notice as he spoke on his side’s lack of salary cap space, having already built the majority of their squad for 2026 already.
Speaking to Serious About Rugby League today, he underlined: “We’re organised in terms of recruitment when it comes to recruitment and planning.
“It’s come in late, it’s probably something where you need to get at least a couple of year’s notification on it so you can plan.”
How Hull KR are impacted by new Super League ruling
Hull KR have a max of seven overseas players this year and they’ll replace the retiring Jared Waerea-Hargreaves with Tom Amone, an example of the planning that Peters spoke about.
He’s suggested that those who do plan are punished somewhat but insisted that the Robins are ‘comfortable’ with what they’ve got for next year.
Peters said: “It was just put on us this year and said that’s going to benefit clubs that have a lot of cap space who haven’t organised for 2026.
“You’ll find, I’m sure, teams like Wigan and Leeds that the majority of their players will be already on the books for next year and that’s a good thing for us. We’re comfortable on that.”
One thing it does mean is more competition for places, something he welcomed, stating: “But at the end of the day, players need to work hard and perform because it does broaden it and open it up to a wider market, where I think before it was more narrow.
“At this stage, we’re okay for 2026 and we’ll be looking more for 2027 but rugby league changes and evolves in terms of recruitment. It’s always ongoing and it’s just something we’ll keep looking at.”
With confirmation that no more overseas signings will arrive before 2026, Peters was asked if the extra quota spots could come into play midway through the next campaign as he looks to strengthen and/or replace injured players.
He confirmed: “We’ll always look within. We’ll look locally but as I said, the market broadens now because you can look to those sort of players.
“You’ve got another three spots that you can fill in terms of quota but it helps because for example, English props, they’re hard to come by. Now it opens it up to go, okay, well, what’s out there if there’s no English props available?
“It gives you a wider market to be able to look for over in Australia or wherever it may be. As I said, we’re okay now.”
