NATHAN CAYLESS admits it was an easy decision to forgo the upcoming World Cup in order to get his feet on the ground at Hull KR.
The 48-year-old has been assistant coach of the Kiwis, whom he captained to World Cup success as a player in 2008, having been a part of the country’s coaching staff since 2018.
But despite feeling as though New Zealand are primed for success in this year’s tournament, Cayless stressed time in East Hull was the priority as he prepares for his first season as Robins head coach.
“It was really important for me (to get to Hull early),” explained Cayless, who is due to arrive in the UK at the start of November.
“I’m passionate with the Kiwis, and I feel like the current squad has been building and is primed to win the World Cup, that was the tough part of it.
“But the easy part for me is that it’s important that I get to Hull as early as I can.
“If I was to take part in the World Cup and we were to make it through to the final on November 15, by the time that I would get to the UK and start planning and organising, it was going to eat into too much time.
“It was an easy decision (to miss the World Cup) to be fair – my priority is with Hull KR now.
“I love working with the Kiwis and it’s not to say that I won’t go back to working with the Kiwis down the track, but this is the most important part for me in terms of my coaching and the things that I need to contribute to the club.
“The club have done a great job in setting the whole place up for success. Now it’s my job to serve the club and community as well as I can, and I thought that was really impossible if I don’t arrive in Hull as early as I can.
“I just can’t wait to get in there and start working with the boys.”
