The Wests Tigers are apparently working on a 2005 Grand Final reunion after hiring new assistant coaches and head coaches for their NSW Cup teams.
Following the departure of former NSW Cup coach Wayne Lambkin from the club in September of this year, a new assistant and NSW Cup coach has been hired.
One of the most seasoned rugby league coaches, Lambkin began working for the Wests Tigers in 2019, taking over as the team’s Jersey Flegg coach before switching to the reserve-grade team in 2022.
His appointment as head coach of the North Sydney Bears NSW Cup club followed a successful 20-year coaching career at Westfield Sports High School.
According to News Corp, the Wests Tigers have apparently hired Aaron Payne as his replacement. Payne will serve as the head coach of the club’s NSW Cup squad, the Western Suburbs Magpies, and will help Benji Marshall as an assistant coach.
The former Cowboys legend was fired from his prior job earlier this year. He played in 219 games for the team between 2002 and 2012, mostly as a hooker.
Payne served as the Townsville Blackhawks’ head coach for five seasons starting in 2018 before being fired from the position earlier this year. Payne took over when Kristian Woolf left for St Helens RLFC.
Payne will join colleagues 2005 Grand Finalists Benji Marshall (head coach), Robbie Farah (assistant coach), and Chris Heighington (assistant coach) at the Tigers upon his arrival.
John Morris, a former assistant coach with the South Sydney Rabbitohs, will also join the coaching team for the upcoming season.
