James Webster is back in rugby league, an outstanding appointment as the first head coach of the controversial joint City of Hull Academy.
The former Balmain Tigers and Parramatta Eels halfback is well respected in the city through his time as a player at Hull Kingston Rovers, where he was instrumental in getting the Robins into Super League, and as assistant coach at Hull FC under Richard Agar.
Although Webster’s time as head coach of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats ended prematurely after a horrendous run of injuries led to 11 successive Super League defeats and a Challenge Cup defeat to Championship side Leigh Centurions, Webster has proved he is an outstanding coach and the experience he has gained as a player in Australia and the UK can only benefit the young players he will be looking after at the academy.
Webster started his coaching career at Hull KR, when he was the interim player-coach between the sacking of Harvey Howard and the appointment of Justin Morgan way back in 2005. He led the team to nine straight wins, including a National Rail Cup Final win over Castleford Tigers, and galvanised the club in a way that has not been forgotten.
His performances on the field of play are also well remembered in East Hull, and he is still held in very high regard for the service he gave to Hull KR (despite signing for and coaching Hull FC!) in both the Championship (or National League as it was then) and Super League – even though a shoulder injury early in the 2008 season forced his early release from the club.
Apparently two Super League players on the verge of retirement and two coaches with Super League experience were also interviewed, but the new academy couldn’t be in much better hands.
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