Former Warrington Wolves fullback appointed to coaching role

Former Warrington Wolves fullback Kurt Gidley has taken on a coaching role in the NRL.

Gidley, who played for the Wolves in 2016 and 2017, will be part of a formidable coaching set-up at the Newcastle Knights that also involves club legend Andrew Johns.

The Knights, fed up of losing local talent to other NRL sides, have invested heavily in a new junior pathway academy and high performance centre as impressive as any other club in any code in Australian sport.

“Our CEO Phil Gardner is really passionate about investing in this area,” said coach Adam O’Brien to the Daily Telegraph.

“I don’t think any club will have better pathway structures by the time we’re finished.

“We’ve got Joey coaching the young halves, Gids doing the fullbacks, Bedsy the hookers, Mark O’Meley the middle forwards and Steve Simpson doing the edge forwards.

“Tell me a youngster who wouldn’t want to be coached by these guys. They listen, they learn and walk off feeling a million dollars.”

Gidley registered over 500 points in just 55 games for the Wolves as Warrington lost two major finals in 2016.

The fullback retired at the end of the 2017 season, having spent 18 years in the sport.