Former Hull KR captain James Webster is returning to the club to become specialist half-back coach with the academy - and current player Peta Hiku will also work with the academy as an outside backs coach.

In an evolution of the academy coaching set-up, another former Hull KR captain Shaun Kenny-Dowall - who has been working as a transition development coach - will also take on a role coaching outside backs.

Former New Zealand player Kenny-Dowall, 36, went into specialising in coaching after retiring from playing, at the end of the 2023 season - and the news about centre Hiku, who turned 32 last week, comes after he played for the Kiwis in the recent Pacific Championships.

READ MORE: 'Look who's back': Ex-Hull KR man Tom Opacic's welcome from Australian club is warm

READ MORE: Peta Hiku's Hull KR coaching role caused by 'an itch' - and another current player is in the mix

Returning Webster, the former half-back, skippered the club to promotion into Super League for the first time late in 2006, lifting the trophy after defeating Widnes Vikings in the Grand Final - having previously played in the NRL. That promotion with Hull KR was part of a four-season stint as a player at the club before leaving in 2008 - but the Australian also returned to the club's coaching staff in 2016. He was in interim charge when Hull KR were relegated from Super League that year. Webster later revived his coaching career by becoming Featherstone Rovers head coach. He has also been a head of the City of Hull academy.

Now the 45-year-old is back in a Hull KR academy department that is headed up by another former Hull KR player, Jason Netherton, who was also in the 17 that won promotion at the end of 2006. Both men started in Hull KR's first game in Super League, in 2007, when they memorably defeated Wakefield at Craven Park.

Webster said: "I’m really happy to come down. I spoke to Jase and Willie (Peters, head coach) not too far back. It’s like a club down the road, I know some of these boys, I’ve watched them play since they were seven years old but I’ve really enjoyed it."

Discussing the return of his former team-mate Webster, Netherton said: "It’s brilliant, we’re over the moon that James has come on board with the staff to teach our players. It’s a position that is at a premium in this country so any help that we can get to help the young players improve we will give them.

"James comes with a massive knowledge from his time playing in the NRL and Super League and he is also an outstanding coach in his own right. There aren't many more people I have come across in the game that are as intelligent as he is so any knowledge that he can pass onto these young players is fantastic."

Click here - Get the latest news on our Rugby League Live WhatsApp channel