Wests Tigers are pleased to announce exciting additions to the Clubs coaching structure for the 2014 season.
Head Coach Mick Potter will welcome Todd Payten and David Kidwell on board as Assistant Coaches. The newly appointed pair will replace Royce Simmons and Steve Georgallis, who advised the Club earlier this season that they would be moving on.
Payten has had an exceptionally successful start to his coaching career as Wests Tigers NYC Head Coach, winning the 2012 premiership and remains in contention for this years title.
Various players in the Wests Tigers top 25 squad for 2014 have played under Payten and for Potter this promotion was a logical step up to the senior coaching ranks.
Todd has wealth of playing experience and now a couple of years of NYC coaching under his belt, Potter said.
This is the natural next step in his coaching progression and he will be a valuable addition to our staff at NRL level.
David Kidwell comes to the Club after impressive stints as an Assistant Coach at Melbourne Storm (2011-13) and NYC Coach at South Sydney Rabbitohs (2010). Kidwell was a standout for this role and will bring a new perspective to the Club.
David will bring a hardened edge to the team and certainly has a great philosophy on Rugby League. His uncompromising approach to the game combined with his own ideas will only benefit our squad, Potter said.
Im confident that David is the right fit for the Club and will work with our strike players on their attacking skills.
With the promotion of Payten, the final piece of the Coaching structure is the appointment of Andrew Webster as full-time NYC Coach.
Webster spent 2012 as Assistant NYC Coach at the Wests Tigers following impressive stints at Hull KR (Assistant Coach) and Balmain SG Ball (Head Coach) where his team won the title.
Webster returns to the Wests Tigers after spending the 2013 season as Head Coach of the Parramatta Eels NYC team. Along with his full time role with the NYC team, Webster will also work with the NRL coaches and have involvement at the top level.
The Wests Tigers High Performance Unit will also welcome new additions for 2014 and will be led by Luke Portese. This department will specifically be responsible for Strength and Conditioning, Sports Science and Performance Analysis.
Strength and Conditioning Coach John Skandalis will be back on board, as will physiotherapist Peter Moussa. Daniel Kerner will join the team as an assistant physiotherapist, replacing Rehabilitation Manager Andrew Leeds.
After more than eight years with the Wests Tigers as the Clubs senior medical advisor, Dr Donald Kuah will take a step back in 2014 and oversee our NSW Cup team. Dr David Abraham joins the Wests Tigers with a wealth of experience in Sports Medicine, including stints with Cricket Australia, Penrith Panthers and GWS Giants.
Wests Tigers CEO Grant Mayer said that the new additions to the coaching structure mark the beginning of a new era at the Club.
First and foremost, we need to acknowledge the fantastic work and effort put in by our departing staff members. They have each contributed in a special way to the Clubs success over a number of years, Mayer said.
In regards to our new structure, it is an exciting time for the Club and we believe that we have the right balance to nurture our more experienced players and to bring through many of the young stars seen on display in 2013.
Its an exciting time for the Wests Tigers and we all look forward to a very exciting 2014 and beyond.
The new additions complete the 2014 coaching structure and all staff will be on board when the pre-season gets underway in early November.
Head Coach Mick Potter will welcome Todd Payten and David Kidwell on board as Assistant Coaches. The newly appointed pair will replace Royce Simmons and Steve Georgallis, who advised the Club earlier this season that they would be moving on.
Payten has had an exceptionally successful start to his coaching career as Wests Tigers NYC Head Coach, winning the 2012 premiership and remains in contention for this years title.
Various players in the Wests Tigers top 25 squad for 2014 have played under Payten and for Potter this promotion was a logical step up to the senior coaching ranks.
Todd has wealth of playing experience and now a couple of years of NYC coaching under his belt, Potter said.
This is the natural next step in his coaching progression and he will be a valuable addition to our staff at NRL level.
David Kidwell comes to the Club after impressive stints as an Assistant Coach at Melbourne Storm (2011-13) and NYC Coach at South Sydney Rabbitohs (2010). Kidwell was a standout for this role and will bring a new perspective to the Club.
David will bring a hardened edge to the team and certainly has a great philosophy on Rugby League. His uncompromising approach to the game combined with his own ideas will only benefit our squad, Potter said.
Im confident that David is the right fit for the Club and will work with our strike players on their attacking skills.
With the promotion of Payten, the final piece of the Coaching structure is the appointment of Andrew Webster as full-time NYC Coach.
Webster spent 2012 as Assistant NYC Coach at the Wests Tigers following impressive stints at Hull KR (Assistant Coach) and Balmain SG Ball (Head Coach) where his team won the title.
Webster returns to the Wests Tigers after spending the 2013 season as Head Coach of the Parramatta Eels NYC team. Along with his full time role with the NYC team, Webster will also work with the NRL coaches and have involvement at the top level.
The Wests Tigers High Performance Unit will also welcome new additions for 2014 and will be led by Luke Portese. This department will specifically be responsible for Strength and Conditioning, Sports Science and Performance Analysis.
Strength and Conditioning Coach John Skandalis will be back on board, as will physiotherapist Peter Moussa. Daniel Kerner will join the team as an assistant physiotherapist, replacing Rehabilitation Manager Andrew Leeds.
After more than eight years with the Wests Tigers as the Clubs senior medical advisor, Dr Donald Kuah will take a step back in 2014 and oversee our NSW Cup team. Dr David Abraham joins the Wests Tigers with a wealth of experience in Sports Medicine, including stints with Cricket Australia, Penrith Panthers and GWS Giants.
Wests Tigers CEO Grant Mayer said that the new additions to the coaching structure mark the beginning of a new era at the Club.
First and foremost, we need to acknowledge the fantastic work and effort put in by our departing staff members. They have each contributed in a special way to the Clubs success over a number of years, Mayer said.
In regards to our new structure, it is an exciting time for the Club and we believe that we have the right balance to nurture our more experienced players and to bring through many of the young stars seen on display in 2013.
Its an exciting time for the Wests Tigers and we all look forward to a very exciting 2014 and beyond.
The new additions complete the 2014 coaching structure and all staff will be on board when the pre-season gets underway in early November.
