According to reports, Wests Tigers appoint a new NSW Cup coach and assistant.
With the recruitment of a new assistant coach and head coach for their NSW Cup team, the Wests Tigers are apparently planning a 2005 Grand Final reunion.
Following the departure of former NSW Cup coach Wayne Lambkin from the team in September of this year, the club has welcomed a new assistant and NSW Cup coach.
One of rugby league’s most seasoned coaches, Lambkin began serving as the Jersey Flegg coach for the Wests Tigers in 2019 and will move to the reserve grade team in 2022.
After establishing a prosperous coaching career at Westfield Sports High School for two decades, he joined the Tigers. From 2006 to 2015, he led the North Sydney Bears NSW Cup squad, and in 2017 he assisted in leading the Manly Sea Eagles to the U20s championship.
According to News Corp., the Wests Tigers have appointed Aaron Payne as head coach of their NSW Cup team, the Western Suburbs Magpies, to succeed him. Payne will serve as an assistant coach under Benji Marshall at the club.
The former Cowboys legend was fired from his prior position earlier this year. He played in 219 games for the team, mostly as a hooker, between 2002 and 2012.
Payne led the Townsville Blackhawks for five seasons beginning in 2018 when Kristian Woolf left to join St Helens RLFC. However, he was fired from the position earlier this year.
Upon joining the Tigers, Payne will work alongside fellow 2005 Grand Finalists Chris Heighington, assistant coach Robbie Farah, and head coach Benji Marshall.
John Morris, a South Sydney Rabbitohs assistant coach, will also join the coaching team for the upcoming year.
