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The highly-rated Andrew Webster has today been named as head coach Andrew McFadden’s second new assistant coach for the Vodafone Warriors’ 2015 NRL campaign.

The 32-year-old Webster’s signing follows confirmation that the experienced Tony Iro would be returning for a second term as an assistant coach at the club.

Webster guided Wests Tigers to the 2014 NYC finals. After beating South Sydney in week one, they were eliminated by Brisbane last Friday night.

Among his previous appointments, Webster was Parramatta’s NYC coach last year and he had two stints as an assistant coach at Hull Kingston Rovers in the English Super League.

Vodafone Warriors general manager football Dean Bell said Webster’s credentials were impressive.

“Andrew is well regarded as a young coach on the way up,” he said.

“Cappy was keen to have a balance of an experienced voice and a younger coach as his assistants. Tony and Andrew will complement each other perfectly.”

Webster said the offer to join the Vodafone Warriors had come at the ideal time.

“I’m hugely excited about the opportunity to coach in the NRL and to have that chance with a club like the Vodafone Warriors,” he said.

“I’m really impressed with the club overall, with the system and the quality of the players they always have coming through.

“The 10 years I’ve had in coaching has given me experience in every role possible in my goal to coach in the NRL.

“The chance to work with Cappy and Tony couldn’t have come at a better time.”

McFadden said he had followed Webster’s development as a coach with interest.

“I first became aware of him when I was coaching at Les Catalans in France. He was with Hull Kingston Rovers then and I’ve kept an eye on him since,” he said.

“For such a young coach he has packed in lots of experience in Australia, England and the United States.

“Through his background he’ll bring a strong base of technical and analytical skills to our team.

“I couldn’t be happier with the calibre of the assistant coaches we’ve been able to secure for the next two seasons. Andrew and Tony are going to be invaluable with the support they’ll give me and the squad generally.”

Webster played rugby league and rugby union before specialising in coaching.

His last season as a player was with the Connecticut Wildcats in the American National Rugby League in 2005. He had one season in union with Eastwood in Sydney after earlier playing lower grade rugby league with Ryde Eastwood, Parramatta and Balmain.

Webster’s first coaching experience was as Connecticut’s player-coach in 2005 followed by two seasons with Hull Kingston Rovers in 2006 and 2007.

After spending 2008 with Parramatta on work experience he was assistant coach under ex-Vodafone Warrior Justin Morgan at Hull KR from 2009-2011.

He returned to Australia in 2012 as coach of Balmain’s SG Ball side, guiding the young Tigers through an undefeated minor premiership campaign for the first time in the club’s history. The side went on to become Balmain’s first SG Ball grand final winner in 30 years.

Webster’s older brother James now coaches the Wakefield Wildcats in the Super League after a playing career featuring more than 30 NRL games for Balmain and Parramatta. He later played for Hull KR, Hull FC and Widnes in England.

ANDREW WEBSTER

Date of Birth: January 17, 1982

Current Position:

   Wests Tigers NYC head coach 2014 (also working with NRL squad)

Previous Appointments:

   Parramatta NYC head coach/NRL development coach 2013

   Wests Tigers NYC assistant coach/Wests Tigers under-19 head coach 2012

   Balmain Tigers SG Ball head coach 2012

   Hull Kingston Rovers assistant coach 2009-2011

   Parramatta NYC work experience 2008

   Hull Kingston Rovers assistant coach/academy coach 2006-2007

   Connecticut Wildcats player-coach 2005

Playing Record:

   Connecticut Wildcats 2005 (American National Rugby League)

   Eastwood 2004 (Sydney Rugby Union grade competition)

   Ryde-Eastwood Hawks 2003 (Jim Beam Cup)

   Parramatta Eels 2002 (New South Wales Premiership)

   Balmain Tigers 1998-2001 (New South Wales Premiership)

 

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