The legendary Stacey Jones will become the new Vodafone Junior Warriors coach at the end of the 2013 season. Photo: Photosport.
The 37-year-old made a club record 261 NRL appearances and also holds the record for most points (674) during his 12 seasons with Vodafone Warriors from 1995-2005 and his final year as a player in 2009.
Jones, who will step up from his current position as junior recruitment and pathways coach, has signed a two-year deal as NYC coach to the end of the 2015 season.
Im hugely excited about the opportunity to take on such an important role with the club that means so much to me, he said.
I moved into coaching after finishing my playing career and the more I got involved in it the more it became apparent to me that this was the direction I wanted to take after my playing career.
Im really enjoying the job I have now running our development programme and working with young elite players.
Coaching the Vodafone Junior Warriors gives me the chance to go to the next level. Im very excited about my new role and will give it my all.
I understand and support the direction the club is heading and the vision (head coach) Matt (Elliott) and (general manager football operations) Dean (Bell) have if were to be successful and achieve what has eluded us for far too long winning the NRL premiership.
Elliott said Jones was the perfect choice for the job.
Stacey meets all the criteria required to be successful in this role, he said.
Ive always admired him from afar and having worked alongside him at the club since coming to the Vodafone Warriors Ive witnessed first-hand what he has to offer as a coach.
Stacey is going to play a critical role in preparing our young players to the highest possible level in readiness for NRL football.
Former team-mate Bell said Jones has already shown special ability as a coach.
Ive been working closely with Stacey in his current role and its clear the clubs young elite players will benefit enormously from his mentoring, he said.
Hes the greatest player this club has produced and has so much mana within the clubs organisation and across the community at large.
He, more than anyone, knows what it takes to become a top NRL player.
Jones worked as a skills coach for the Vodafone Warriors in 2008 after returning from France and following his comeback year in 2009 he then coached his old club Point Chevalier in 2010 and 2011, taking the team to title success each season to earn promotion to Aucklands Fox Memorial competition.
In 2012 he worked as a development officer for the Auckland Rugby League before being signed by the Vodafone Warriors to work as clubs junior recruitment and pathways coach under Bells management.
Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said Jones would continue to report to Bell in his new position.
Dean and his recruitment team have done a terrific job in attracting the best young players to the club and setting up a wider network of scouts, he said.
This has helped us to secure a number of talented young players such as Konrad Hurrell and Ngani Laumape, who have already played in the NRL, while there are also a number of others in line to follow them.
What appealed to us when we appointed Matt was the clear vision he had for a club-wide approach to recruitment and development.
He said Jones appointment was a key move in achieving this; and that there were other initiatives being planned to support the clubs goal of sustained success at NRL level.
STACEY JONES
Born: May 7, 1976
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Position: Vodafone Junior Warriors junior recruitment and pathways coach
Previous Roles: Auckland Rugby League football development officer 2012
Point Chevalier coach 2010-2011
Vodafone Warriors skills coach 2008
Playing Record:
Junior Clubs: Ponsonby-Maritime, Pt Chevalier (Auckland)
NRL Career: Vodafone Warriors 1995-2005, 2009
Club No: 24
NRL Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Parramatta, Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, April
23, 1995 (Round 7)
NRL Career: 261 appearances 1995-2005, 2009
NRL Points: 674 (77 tries, 176 goals, 14 field goals)
Super League: Les Catalans Dragons 2006-2007
Super League Debut: Les Catalans v Wigan, Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan, February
11, 2006 (Round 1)
Super League Career: 45 appearances 2006-2007
Super League Points: 133 (11 tries, 43 goals, 3 field goals)
Test Debut: v Tonga, Warrington, October 8, 1995 (World Cup)
Test Career: 46 tests for Kiwis 1995-2006; 6 tests as captain 2002 and 2006
Test Points: 160 (16 tries, 47 goals, 2 field goals)
Kiwi Number: 665
Awards: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit 2005 Golden Boot Award 2002
New Zealand Player of the Year 1991, 1992, 2002 Vodafone Warriors Player of the Year 1997
Educated: St Pauls College (Auckland)
The 37-year-old made a club record 261 NRL appearances and also holds the record for most points (674) during his 12 seasons with Vodafone Warriors from 1995-2005 and his final year as a player in 2009.
Jones, who will step up from his current position as junior recruitment and pathways coach, has signed a two-year deal as NYC coach to the end of the 2015 season.
Im hugely excited about the opportunity to take on such an important role with the club that means so much to me, he said.
I moved into coaching after finishing my playing career and the more I got involved in it the more it became apparent to me that this was the direction I wanted to take after my playing career.
Im really enjoying the job I have now running our development programme and working with young elite players.
Coaching the Vodafone Junior Warriors gives me the chance to go to the next level. Im very excited about my new role and will give it my all.
I understand and support the direction the club is heading and the vision (head coach) Matt (Elliott) and (general manager football operations) Dean (Bell) have if were to be successful and achieve what has eluded us for far too long winning the NRL premiership.
Elliott said Jones was the perfect choice for the job.
Stacey meets all the criteria required to be successful in this role, he said.
Ive always admired him from afar and having worked alongside him at the club since coming to the Vodafone Warriors Ive witnessed first-hand what he has to offer as a coach.
Stacey is going to play a critical role in preparing our young players to the highest possible level in readiness for NRL football.
Former team-mate Bell said Jones has already shown special ability as a coach.
Ive been working closely with Stacey in his current role and its clear the clubs young elite players will benefit enormously from his mentoring, he said.
Hes the greatest player this club has produced and has so much mana within the clubs organisation and across the community at large.
He, more than anyone, knows what it takes to become a top NRL player.
Jones worked as a skills coach for the Vodafone Warriors in 2008 after returning from France and following his comeback year in 2009 he then coached his old club Point Chevalier in 2010 and 2011, taking the team to title success each season to earn promotion to Aucklands Fox Memorial competition.
In 2012 he worked as a development officer for the Auckland Rugby League before being signed by the Vodafone Warriors to work as clubs junior recruitment and pathways coach under Bells management.
Vodafone Warriors chief executive Wayne Scurrah said Jones would continue to report to Bell in his new position.
Dean and his recruitment team have done a terrific job in attracting the best young players to the club and setting up a wider network of scouts, he said.
This has helped us to secure a number of talented young players such as Konrad Hurrell and Ngani Laumape, who have already played in the NRL, while there are also a number of others in line to follow them.
What appealed to us when we appointed Matt was the clear vision he had for a club-wide approach to recruitment and development.
He said Jones appointment was a key move in achieving this; and that there were other initiatives being planned to support the clubs goal of sustained success at NRL level.
STACEY JONES
Born: May 7, 1976
Birthplace: Auckland, New Zealand
Position: Vodafone Junior Warriors junior recruitment and pathways coach
Previous Roles: Auckland Rugby League football development officer 2012
Point Chevalier coach 2010-2011
Vodafone Warriors skills coach 2008
Playing Record:
Junior Clubs: Ponsonby-Maritime, Pt Chevalier (Auckland)
NRL Career: Vodafone Warriors 1995-2005, 2009
Club No: 24
NRL Debut: Vodafone Warriors v Parramatta, Parramatta Stadium, Sydney, April
23, 1995 (Round 7)
NRL Career: 261 appearances 1995-2005, 2009
NRL Points: 674 (77 tries, 176 goals, 14 field goals)
Super League: Les Catalans Dragons 2006-2007
Super League Debut: Les Catalans v Wigan, Stade Aime Giral, Perpignan, February
11, 2006 (Round 1)
Super League Career: 45 appearances 2006-2007
Super League Points: 133 (11 tries, 43 goals, 3 field goals)
Test Debut: v Tonga, Warrington, October 8, 1995 (World Cup)
Test Career: 46 tests for Kiwis 1995-2006; 6 tests as captain 2002 and 2006
Test Points: 160 (16 tries, 47 goals, 2 field goals)
Kiwi Number: 665
Awards: Officer of the New Zealand Order of Merit 2005 Golden Boot Award 2002
New Zealand Player of the Year 1991, 1992, 2002 Vodafone Warriors Player of the Year 1997
Educated: St Pauls College (Auckland)
