Jared Waerea-Hargreaves and Michael McIlorum have both had more than a passing familiarity with the rugby league judiciary throughout their careers.
Hull KR head coach Willie Peters will not be trying to rein two of his newest recruits in too much though, because measured aggression is exactly what he wants to see from them.
After finishing on the losing side in last year’s Betfred Super League Grand Final, Peters has beefed up his pack with the signings of former New Zealand international Hargreaves and England hooker McIlorum and expects them to bring the hurt in the 2025 season.
“Rugby league is an aggressive game,” Peters told rugbyleaguehub.com. “Especially with your forward pack, that’s where you need the aggression.
“Those two guys, the aggression and the experience they bring is only going to be a benefit to the team.
“Most players, when they play against guys like that, they know it’s going to be a tough game and that’s what we want to add to that.
“We’ve got a pack which was one of the best in the competition last year and we’ve certainly added to that.”
The Robins, beaten 9-2 by quadruple winners Wigan Warriors in last year’s Old Trafford showpiece, begin their 2025 Super League campaign at home to Castleford Tigers on Friday (8pm kick-off).
Waerea-Hargreaves brings experience of winning three NRL titles with Sydney Roosters, while McIlorum is a two-time Super League champion from his Wigan days, and a three-time Challenge Cup winner with the Warriors and Catalans Dragons.
Added to that is another new signing in goal-kicking second row Rhyse Martin, a Challenge Cup winner in 2020 with Leeds Rhinos, and Peters is in no doubt that trophy-winning experience will prove invaluable as Hull KR seek to bring a major honour back to the east of the city.
“I think it’s experience of playing in those games and understanding when you are in those big moments again how to win those games,” Peters said.
“There was a period in the Grand Final where we had a set of six and we were in survival mode, I thought.
“We didn’t attack the set and Bevan French scores off the next set – that was a big moment in the game. But we’ve learnt from that.
“Then you bring in some experience with Jared and Mickey Mac, guys who have won competitions – they can help you win those games.”
Image: Olly Hassell/SWpix
