You have skipped the navigation, tab for page content
Coaches confirmed for 2025

Wests Tigers have confirmed the coaching lineups for all teams ahead of the 2025 season as we welcome several new coaching staff to the club.

NRL

  • Head Coach - Benji Marshall
  • Assistant Coach - Chris Heighington
  • Assistant Coach - Brett Hodgson
  • Assistant Coach - John Morris

Brett Hodgson joins Benji Marshall’s coaching staff with the Wests Tigers Life Member returning to the club as an Assistant Coach.

Hodgson has more recently spent time as Head Coach of Hull FC, as well as coaching in the Australian and English rugby union setups.

NSW Cup - Western Suburbs Magpies

  • Head Coach - Aaron Payne
  • Assistant Coach - Jarred Farlow
  • Assistant Coach - Nathan Lakeman (post-SG Ball Cup season)

Jarred Farlow has been appointed Assistant Coach of the Magpies NSW Cup team this year, after a long stint as head coach of Ryde-Eastwood Hawks in the Ron Massey Cup.

Farlow, Wests Tigers #165, played one NRL game for Wests Tigers in 2013 and had an extensive playing career in the NSW Cup.

Magpies SG Ball coach Nathan Lakeman will also join the NSW Cup staff at the conclusion of the SG Ball Cup season.

Jersey Flegg Cup (U/21s) - Wests Tigers 

  • Head Coach - Leon Latulipe
  • Assistant Coach - Danny Constantine

Leon Latulipe and Danny Constantine both return to the Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg Cup setup, after the U/21s team narrowly missed a place in the finals in 2024.

SG Ball Cup (U/19s) - Western Suburbs Magpies

  • Head Coach - Nathan Lakeman 
  • Assistant Coach - Harrison Fox
  • Assistant Coach - Mitch Tyler

Nathan Lakeman has been appointed new head coach of Wests Magpies' SG Ball side after spending 2024 as assistant coach for the Wests Tigers Jersey Flegg Cup team.

Harrison Fox and Mitch Tyler are the new assistant coaches after previously serving roles as head coach of the Macarthur Wests Tigers Andrew Johns Cup and Laurie Daley Cup teams respectively.

SG Ball Cup (U/19s) - Balmain Tigers

  • Head Coach - Shane Sultana
  • Assistant Coach - Mick Daley
  • Assistant Coach - Andrew Kazzi

Shane Sultana, formerly assistant coach of South Sydney Rabbitohs' NSW Cup team, joins the Wests Tigers pathways system in 2025 as head coach of the Balmain Tigers SG Ball Cup side.

Sultana is joined by new assistants, Mick Daley and Andrew Kazzi.

Tarsha Gale Cup (U/19s)

  • Head Coach - Taiana Scanlan-Waddell

Wests Tigers NRLW assistant coach Taiana Scanlan-Waddell has been appointed Head Coach of the club's Tarsha Gale Cup team in 2025.

Taiana was an assistant coach of the club's Harvey Norman Women's team in 2023, before assisting Brett Kimmorley in our first two seasons in the NRLW.

Laurie Daley Cup (U/18s) - Macarthur Wests Tigers

  • Head Coach - Brody Dooner
  • Assistant Coach - Tuki Jackson
  • Assistant Coach - Pat Richards

Brody Dooner joins the club as Laurie Daley Cup head coach and will be joined by returning assistant Tuki Jackson, as well as Wests Tigers Life Member, Pat Richards.

Dooner is a well-known Macarthur junior who has coaching experience in the highly successful rugby league program at St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown.

Harold Matthews Cup (U/17s) - Western Suburbs Magpies

  • Head Coach - Stephen Isdale
  • Assistant Coach - Alec Bush
  • Assistant Coach - Stephen Butler

Wests Magpies Harold Matthews Cup coaching staff remains unchanged from last season. Stephen Isdale will again be in charge as the Magpies aim to go one better than their grand final loss in 2024.

Harold Matthews Cup (U/17s) - Balmain Tigers

  • Head Coach - Greg Michel
  • Assistant Coach - Jason Stanton
  • Assistant Coach - Dane Ryan 
  • Assistant Coach - John Muggleton

It will be a new-look coaching staff for the Balmain Harold Matthews team in 2025, headed up by Greg Michel. 

Greg will be joined by former Australia Women's Rugby 7s coach Jason Stanton, former Paramatta premiership-winning forward John Muggleton, and former Balmain SG Ball assistant coach, Dane Ryan.

Lisa Fiaola Cup (U/17s)

  • Head Coach - Scott Clark

Lisa Fiaola Cup coach Scott Clark returns to the fold in 2025, after guiding the team to a grand final appearance last season.

Andrew Johns Cup (U/16s) - Macarthur Wests Tigers

  • Head Coach - Adam Whitelaw
  • Assistant Coach - Mark Potts
  • Assistant Coach - Jamie Blewitt

Adam Whitelaw has been elevated to head coach of the Andrew Johns Cup team after previously serving as assistant coach.

Mark Potts also returns as assistant coach, while former pathways development squad coach, Jamie Blewitt, is the new addition to the setup.

A handful of additional pathways coaching staff are expected to be announced in the coming weeks.  

Coaching staff for the NRLW and NSW Women’s Premiership teams will be announced at a later date.

Acknowledgement of Country

Wests Tigers respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.

Major Partner

Corporate Partners

View All Partners