After four weeks in the job new Vodafone Warriors NRL assistant coach Andrew Webster is absolutely loving it as he settles into life in Auckland.
The 32-year-old caught up with Vodafone Warriors TV after a training session this week to talk about his step up from his NYC coaching role with Wests Tigers.
He was confirmed in late September as the second of head coach Andrew McFadden’s new assistant coaches for the Vodafone Warriors’ 2015 NRL campaign.
Earlier McFadden announced the experienced Tony Iro would be returning for a second term as his other assistant.
Webster guided Wests Tigers to the 2014 NYC finals. After beating South Sydney in week one, they were eliminated by Brisbane.
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 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
Previous Appointments:
Wests Tigers NYC head coach 2014 (also working with NRL squad)
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)
