After leaving the top job at Huddersfield Giants back in 2024, Ian Watson has found his way back into coaching in Super League as assistant at champions Hull KR.
Watson had a successful few seasons with the Giants, taking them to the Challenge Cup final in 2022. Prior to that, he had guided Salford Red Devils all the way to the Super League Grand Final in 2019 where they subsequently lost to St Helens.
He left the Giants in July 2024 by mutual consent and off the back of that, moved to the role of assistant coach for American Major League Rugby outfit Seattle Seawolves.
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Following that monumental move to the US, and the departure of Danny Ward from Hull KR to London Broncos, Watson has returned to Super League for the 2026 season as assistant to Willie Peters.
Watson has joined the Robins in what will be Peters’ last year at the club before he heads into the role as head coach of new NRL franchise PNG Chiefs who are set to join the Australian competition in 2028.
Peters’ successor has not been confirmed but it is not a role that Watson is looking at. However, he does see himself returning to a top coaching job at some point in his career.
“I think the one thing they’re really good at at Hull KR is having like a bit of a succession plan,” Watson told Sky Sports’ The Bench podcast.
“I think there has been somebody in mind who they have got. Whether that works out or not, they will be able to tell you that. I won’t be able to tell you that.
“I have had a chat with the club and just said, if it was a case of having some consistency in the way that they train, the way that they prepare, because it’s very, very similar.
“If they want that kind of consistency, then I would be willing to look at that and step forward if that was needed to and they thought I was the right person to do it.
“My ambition is to get back into head coaching at some point. Whether it is here, we don’t know.
“Nobody ever knows. I think everything is timing.”
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Highlights of the Super League game between Hull KR and Wigan Warriors.
Watson has also credited Hull KR’s culture and working with Peters as to why he is enjoying his role so much after taking some time away from the competition.
Indeed, he believes it is “first class”.
“Coming to Hull KR, it has been great to be fair. It has been a new challenge in many ways,” he added.
“Going to Seattle helped, stepping back a little bit, being an assistant coach where you can see things a little bit different without all the kind of stress of everything else that goes in and around the head coach’s role.
“So, it has been first class coming here, jumping in with the boys and just trying to build them relationships up with Willie and with the playing staff.
“Moving into the area and getting to know the community has been really good as well.
“You walk into the gym, everyone is rugby up here, everyone is straight into you and talking to you about the place.
“They are really welcoming as well and you have a proper community where they are asking about your family. They don’t even know your family, but they’re asking about your family.”
2026 Super League – key dates and what to look out for
- Super League in Paris: Sat June 6: Catalans Dragons vs Wigan Warriors (Paris), 6.30pm UK (Sky Sports)
- Magic Weekend: July 4-July 5
- Rivals Round reversed: July 23-July 26
- Elimination Play-offs: September 19-September 20
- Play-off semi-finals: September 26-September 27
- Grand Final: October 3, Old Trafford.
Sky Sports will again show every game of the Super League live this season – including two matches in each round exclusively live, with the remaining five matches each week shown on Sky Sports+
