Wallabies 2023

[RugbyReg]

Former NRL star and England assistant coach Brett Hodgson has been appointed as the Wallabies defence coach on a two-year deal until the end of 2024.

Hodgson joins Rugby Australia following a highly decorated career as both a professional player and coach, having played over 350 first grade games in NRL and English Super League, as well as representing New South Wales in State of Origin.

Following retirement as a player, he began his coaching career in 2012 as a kicking consultant with Sale Sharks in the English Premiership before becoming an assistant with Hull FC in the Super League.

He then moved back to Australia to take up a role with his former club, Wests Tigers in 2018, returning to the UK as head coach of Hull FC at the end of 2020.

The 45-year-old most recently joined Eddie Jones as England’s defence coach in November last year and will begin his role with the Wallabies effective immediately.

Wallabies assistant coach Brett Hodgson said: “I’m really excited to be back in Australia and working with the Wallabies, especially in a World Cup year.”

“There’s plenty of hard work ahead and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a positive contribution to the team.

“The Wallabies are a team everyone in Australia loves to get behind and from what I’ve seen so far there’s plenty of talent here and that’s something that’s really exciting.”

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones said: “Brett’s a hard-working and detailed young coach who will be a great asset to the Wallabies and the coaching staff.”

"He's worked under some great coaching mentors like Gus Gould and Tim Sheens in his time as a player and a coach, so he's well-schooled and I know he’ll give his best to the job of producing best defence in world.”

 

[Slim 293]

Potential to add a ACT team and a Melbourne team to the Shute Shield?

Short answer... no.

 

[The_Brown_Hornet]

I think that is our best option going forward. You could use the private equity money to potentially expand those comps too.

Understandably I don’t have the greatest knowledge of the state of the game in Queensland. But would it be viable at all to look to add a regional team to get the competition to 10 sides?

Potential to add a ACT team and a Melbourne team to the Shute Shield?

I would like to find away to also support Perth

Yep, that's a non-negotiable for me. In a state where the game is growing, cutting us off would be madness.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Canberra was in the SS for a few years in the 90s. Problem is by doing that you are saying one is superior to the other and it deminishes a good grass roots comp.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

Got no problem with the Brett Hodgson appointment.

He's not a rookie and is an experienced head in the football world. I don't know who else they would of got that would be any better either.

 

[Rebel man]

Canberra was in the SS for a few years in the 90s. Problem is by doing that you are saying one is superior to the other and it deminishes a good grass roots comp.

I think it’s different if one is a professional outfit and the other remain in a proper club comp.

 

[Rebel man]

Yep, that's a non-negotiable for me. In a state where the game is growing, cutting us off would be madness.

It’s just where to place you logistically. Sydney comp or Brisbane comp?

Our would it be better to say have another 30 contracts to hand out and then spread that talent through the local comp there to help that?

I don’t know the answer.

 

[Braveheart81]

Former NRL star and England assistant coach Brett Hodgson has been appointed as the Wallabies defence coach on a two-year deal until the end of 2024.

They found the guy who looked most like Stephen Larkham without being Stephen Larkham.

 

[The Ghost of Raelene]

I think it’s different if one is a professional outfit and the other remain in a proper club comp.

Fair enough.

Theres a thread on here about National Comp ideas. Throw them all out there

 

[Viking]

Eddie will get his way - and this will open the chance for Sio for sure. He will be involved in conversations definitely now because of this - even if Bell does just make it back. Why? Because the gap between Slipper/Bell down to Robertson/Gibbon is vast. Sio is the gap filler and his value just jumped.

I think Sio is more than a gap-filler. I put him above Slipper or at least equal too. He left Aus in great form although mostly getting game-time from the bench as Slipper was fill-in Captain.

 

[7137]

Former NRL star and England assistant coach Brett Hodgson has been appointed as the Wallabies defence coach on a two-year deal until the end of 2024.

Hodgson joins Rugby Australia following a highly decorated career as both a professional player and coach, having played over 350 first grade games in NRL and English Super League, as well as representing New South Wales in State of Origin.

Following retirement as a player, he began his coaching career in 2012 as a kicking consultant with Sale Sharks in the English Premiership before becoming an assistant with Hull FC in the Super League.

He then moved back to Australia to take up a role with his former club, Wests Tigers in 2018, returning to the UK as head coach of Hull FC at the end of 2020.

The 45-year-old most recently joined Eddie Jones as England’s defence coach in November last year and will begin his role with the Wallabies effective immediately.

Wallabies assistant coach Brett Hodgson said: “I’m really excited to be back in Australia and working with the Wallabies, especially in a World Cup year.”

“There’s plenty of hard work ahead and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a positive contribution to the team.

“The Wallabies are a team everyone in Australia loves to get behind and from what I’ve seen so far there’s plenty of talent here and that’s something that’s really exciting.”

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones said: “Brett’s a hard-working and detailed young coach who will be a great asset to the Wallabies and the coaching staff.”

"He's worked under some great coaching mentors like Gus Gould and Tim Sheens in his time as a player and a coach, so he's well-schooled and I know he’ll give his best to the job of producing best defence in world.”

 

[Marce]

Got no problem with the Brett Hodgson appointment.

He's not a rookie and is an experienced head in the football world. I don't know who else they would of got that would be any better either.

Michael Maguire? Maybe he's too expensive

 

[Drew]

Michael Maguire? Maybe he's too expensive

He said no already

 

[Brumby Runner]

Former NRL star and England assistant coach Brett Hodgson has been appointed as the Wallabies defence coach on a two-year deal until the end of 2024.

Hodgson joins Rugby Australia following a highly decorated career as both a professional player and coach, having played over 350 first grade games in NRL and English Super League, as well as representing New South Wales in State of Origin.

Following retirement as a player, he began his coaching career in 2012 as a kicking consultant with Sale Sharks in the English Premiership before becoming an assistant with Hull FC in the Super League.

He then moved back to Australia to take up a role with his former club, Wests Tigers in 2018, returning to the UK as head coach of Hull FC at the end of 2020.

The 45-year-old most recently joined Eddie Jones as England’s defence coach in November last year and will begin his role with the Wallabies effective immediately.

Wallabies assistant coach Brett Hodgson said: “I’m really excited to be back in Australia and working with the Wallabies, especially in a World Cup year.”

“There’s plenty of hard work ahead and I’m looking forward to hitting the ground running and making a positive contribution to the team.

“The Wallabies are a team everyone in Australia loves to get behind and from what I’ve seen so far there’s plenty of talent here and that’s something that’s really exciting.”

Wallabies head coach Eddie Jones said: “Brett’s a hard-working and detailed young coach who will be a great asset to the Wallabies and the coaching staff.”

"He's worked under some great coaching mentors like Gus Gould and Tim Sheens in his time as a player and a coach, so he's well-schooled and I know he’ll give his best to the job of producing best defence in world.”

I wouldn't be the only one, but I did pick it just after the Tahs/Brumbies match. Brett was sitting in the box with Eddie at the game. Actually, a favourite player of mine when he was fullback at the Magpies and Wests Tigers. At the time I was a League fan and followed the Western Suburbs side since the late 50s.

As an aside, I wonder what "hitting the ground running" means when he won't have a side to coach for another 6 - 7 months or thereabouts? Only super bloated squads together for a few days at a time in the meantime and really not an opportunity to impart a lot of knowledge or skills training.

 

[Marce]

He said no already

What a pity! Who else they asked?

 

[LeCheese]

As an aside, I wonder what "hitting the ground running" means when he won't have a side to coach for another 6 - 7 months or thereabouts?

All the 'hands-off' stuff required of coaches - assessment, planning, resourcing, etc.

 

[Sword of Justice]

I think Sio is more than a gap-filler. I put him above Slipper or at least equal too. He left Aus in great form although mostly getting game-time from the bench as Slipper was fill-in Captain.

He was in good form but that was coming off 2-3 years of doing nothing which saw him as incumbent lose his spot to Slipper at the Brumbies and drop out of the Wallabies squad altogether. Slipper on the other hand hasn't really ever played two bad games in a row.

 

[rodha]

Looks like we've seen the new defence coach for the Wallabies. Brett Hodgson, ex-Western Suburbs/West Tigers/Warrington Wolves rugby league full back, who most recently was England rugby defence coach under Eddie.

Hodgson missed the finals each year with the Wests Tigers as assistant & missed the finals both years with Hull FC as head coach...

Whatever Eddie's selection criteria for his assistants is, it certainly doesn't include a distinguished history of on-field coaching success!

 

[Slim 293]

 

[Confucius Say]

Hodgson played above his weight, won a NRL premiership and a Challenge Cup (UK) as a player.

Eddie and Hodgson will be ruling a line through the lambs who came through academies but have never made a decent tackle in their professional careers.

Edmed missed a couple of easy ones on Friday night that led to tries. Son of a leaguie so very surprising.