Newly appointed Wests Tigers NRLW Head Coach, Craig Sandercock has built a diverse coaching career in rugby league throughout Australia and England, developing experience at nearly every level of the game over the past two decades.
So, what do you need to know about the man charged with leading the next chapter of the Wests Tigers NRLW program?
Early years
A teacher by trade, Sandercock worked as a HSIE teacher and later Deputy Head at Pittwater House School.
He would eventually begin juggling his teaching commitments with coaching, before transitioning into the world of professional rugby league full time, with the Manly Sea Eagles NSW Cup side.
Sandercock worked in the Reserve Grade program for three seasons, as he helped transition young talent into the NRL during a successful period on the Northern Beaches under Des Hasler – which featured a Premiership in 2008.
He then joined the Newcastle Knights in 2010, serving as an Assistant Coach under Rick Stone for two seasons, working closely with the likes of Akuila Uate, Steve Simpson, Kurt Gidley and Cameron Ciraldo.
Coaching abroad
Sandercock was a relative unknown in east Hull when he was announced as the Head Coach of Hull KR in 2011, taking the reins for the Rovers 2012 Super League campaign.
His first head coaching role in the top grade, Sandercock secured a finals appearance for the Rovers in his second season in charge before eventually returning to Australia in 2014.
Sandercock coached nearly 80 matches in the UK’s top division in a stint that he described as a massive learning curve on his arrival back to Australia, where he briefly reunited with Stone in Newcastle before returning to Sydney.
Wests Tigers
In his first stint at Concord, Sandercock served as an Assistant Coach from 2016 to 2019 under Jason Taylor, Ivan Cleary and Michael Maguire.
He worked alongside David Kidwell, Andrew Webster and Willie Peters and had a strong role in the team’s attack during his time with the Club – coaching both Benji Marshall and current NRL squad member, Alex Twal.
Pathways and NRLW
Sandercock added further NRL experience to his CV at the Cronulla Sharks in 2020 as an Assistant Coach under John Morris, before two seasons at the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs under Trent Barrett.
His time at Belmore then initiated a move into the women’s game, taking charge of the Bulldogs programs in 2023 – where he played an instrumental role in their growth – overseeing development across both the senior program and pathways.
In addition to coaching the Bulldogs Harvey Norman Premiership side, Sandercock established key coaching programs and skills academies, laying the foundations for the club’s entry into the NRLW.
Sandercock will commence his role at Wests Tigers in November with the club’s women’s program set to benefit from his extensive experience, management style and leadership.
