Wests Tigers extend Craig Sandercock until 2030
The Wests Tigers are delighted to confirm that NRLW Head Coach, Craig Sandercock has penned a three-year contract extension, keeping him at the helm of the Club’s elite women’s program until the end of the 2030 NRLW season.
Originally contracted through to the end of 2027, the Club has moved to lock in the experienced Sandercock long-term, following a record-breaking season, which saw Wests Tigers qualify for the NRLW finals for the first time.
In addition to his work on the field, Sandercock has been instrumental in attracting elite-level talent to the Club, with multiple international and State of Origin stars arriving at Concord since his appointment.
Sandercock has also worked closely with Head of Women’s Football, Charmain Steventon across the Club’s female development pathways and as part of his extended role, will have an increased focus on coaching development and standards, working closely with Head of Female Pathways, David Fauonuku.
Wests Tigers CEO, Shaun Mielekamp was excited to have ‘Sandy’ extend his tenure at the Club.
“Sandy has done a remarkable job with our NRLW program and thoroughly deserves the opportunity to continue building on what the group has achieved,” Mielekamp said.
He's a great character, a great person to have around the Club and someone who has played a significant role in establishing the foundations for our future success. Having him locked in until 2030 gives us enormous confidence in the direction of the program.
Shaun Mielekamp Wests Tigers CEO
“One of the things we've been really focused on is building greater alignment across our football programs, and Sandy has embraced that.
“We've already seen what can be achieved when you put the right people and structures in place. Sandy and Charmain have been fantastic, now it's about continuing to build on that work, strengthening our development pathways and giving our players and coaches the best opportunity to succeed.”
Wests Tigers Head of Women’s Football Charmain Steventon welcomed Sandercock’s extension after what was a stellar first season as Head Coach.
“To have someone with Sandy’s experience, temperament and approach leading our NRLW team is exactly what we were looking for when we first brought him to the Club. His impact on the playing group and our football environment has been significant,” Steventon said.
The way he’s connected with the playing group, brought the program together and instilled belief has been integral to our progress. Securing Sandy through to 2030 gives us important stability as we continue to build the roster, our Pathways and the standards across the entire women’s football program.
Charmain Steventon Head of Women's Football
NRLW Head Coach Craig Sandercock says he has loved the journey so far and is excited about what’s ahead at Concord.
“Wests Tigers is my club. I've got a family history here and I've been involved in different capacities over the years, so it's a place that means a lot to me,” Sandercock said.
“From the day I arrived, the support from everyone across the Club has been unbelievable. I'm really excited about the opportunity to continue building something special here.
The players deserve enormous credit for the way they've embraced the challenge this year. We've made some positive progress, but there's still plenty of hard work ahead of us.
We're only scratching the surface of what we can achieve with this program. There's a real commitment across the Club to developing our players, strengthening our Pathways and building a system that can deliver sustained success.
Craig Sandercock NRLW Head Coach
“The expectations have changed following this season, and that's something we need to become comfortable with. We want to keep raising our standards, developing our young players and building a team that can compete with the best.”
