Wests Tigers have today confirmed the club’s Football Department for the 2021 NRL season with several key changes to the coaching and football structure.
Under the leadership of Head Coach Michael Maguire, Shane Millard and Wayne Collins will operate as Assistant Coaches in 2021 — the latter of whom joins the NRL coaching staff after featuring as the club’s Canterbury Cup Coach in 2020.
A former Canberra Raiders, St. George-Dragons and South Queensland Crushers hooker, Collins has previously held assistant coaching roles with the Penrith Panthers, Canberra Raiders and South Sydney Rabbitohs throughout his career.
With Millard and Collins operating as Assistant Coaches, former Premiership Winner Brett Hodgson will transition into a new role with the club as Pathways Head Coach.
Ronnie Palmer will also shift into Pathways High Performance role, with Matthew Jay joining as an NRL Performance Coach from the Cronulla Sharks.
After spending a number of seasons with Wests Tigers, Assistant Coach Andrew Webster, NRL Performance Coach Steve Hooper and Team Manager Tony Carson will depart the club. James Wright will assume the role of NRL Football Manager and Leadership Consultant while 2020 Club Person of the Year Billy Callaway will step up to the role of Football Operations Assistant.
Wests Tigers CEO Justin Pascoe said the changes would be of great benefit to the club moving forward.
“On behalf of all at Wests Tigers, I’d like to welcome all new members of the football department to the Wests Tigers,” Pascoe said.
“All of these new additions will add plenty of value to Wests Tigers and its football program, and will ensure that our playing group has all the tools required to operate in an elite high performing environment.
“I’d also like to recognise the contribution of Tony, Steve and Andrew over a number of years,” he said. “They have all have given tremendous service and dedication to this club and we wish them all the best in their future endeavours.”
Wests Tigers 2021 Football Department
- Adam Hartigan — General Manager – Football
- Michael Maguire — NRL Head Coach
- Shane Millard — NRL Assistant Coach
- Wayne Collins — NRL Assistant Coach
- Andrew Gray — Head of Performance
- Matthew Jay — NRL Performance Coach
- Aaron Sculli — NRL Performance Coach
- James Wright — NRL Football Manager and Leadership Consultant