NRL NEWS: Warriors name their coach, Smith faces ban over ref rant, ScoMo denies trying to join ARL

The Warriors have put their faith in Panthers assistant Andrew Webster to be their new head coach with the 40-year-old to take over next season on a three-year deal.

Warriors CEO Cameron George on Friday announced Webster had won the race to replace Nathan Brown, whose tenure ended abruptly last month halfway through his three-year contract.

Club legend Stacey Jones is coaching the team on an interim basis for the rest of 2022. The Warriors are again struggling in 13th position with a 5-11 record but will relocate back to Auckland full-time at season’s end after spending three years in temporary bases in Australia due to the pandemic.

Webster was an integral part of Penrith’s 2021 NRL premiership success as an assistant coach.

He began his coaching career as a 23-year-old and quickly progressed in the next six seasons as an assistant coach at the Hull Kingston Rovers in the English Super League.

He returned home to Australia in 2012 progressing through the ranks at the Wests Tigers, Parramatta Eels and the Warriors en route to his current position with Penrith.

Webster’s first link with the Warriors was in the 2015 and 2016 seasons when he worked with head coach Andrew McFadden.

“Andrew has a great understanding of the Vodafone Warriors from his time here. He truly believes in what our club has, our values, what we stand for and where we can go,” said George.

(Photo by Matt King/Getty Images)

“We’re absolutely thrilled to be able to secure a coach of his calibre.

“He has terrific experience at three clubs, not least at the Penrith Panthers where he played such a critical role in helping them to the premiership last season.

“He’s extremely well thought of as a coach with a huge future in the NRL and comes highly recommended by Ivan Cleary.”

Webster spent a couple of games as an interim coach at the Wests Tigers in 2017 when Jason Taylor was sacked, before Ivan Cleary took over.

“I’m excited and honoured about becoming head coach,” he said.

“I loved my time in Auckland when I was last there and I’m really looking forward to making it home again.

“I feel we have a real opportunity to progress the club and I can’t wait to hit the ground in November.”

Panthers rugby league CEO Matt Cameron said although the club was saddened to see Webster go, “it’s rewarding to see a valued member of the club progress to the next stage of their career”.

“Working alongside NRL head coach Ivan Cleary and the entire football staff, Andrew has been influential in providing an environment for players to flourish, and played a key role in leading the Panthers to premiership success.”

Smith referred to the judiciary

Melbourne hooker Brandon Smith has been sent straight to the judiciary for allegedly calling the referee a cheat.

Smith could be suspended for a month over the incident.

Smith has since apologised to referee Adam Gee.

Smith was binned in the 59th minute when he gave Gee a gobful while Melbourne were attacking Cronulla’s line in Thursday’s 28-6 defeat.

Gee stopped the play and sent the hooker for a 10-minute spell, with the referee heard on the television broadcast refusing to repeat what was said.

Smith declined to divulge what he said but conceded he was out of line.

“I lost my temper and it’s very disappointing on my behalf. I let not only myself, but all my teammates down,” Smith said. “That’s not good enough.

“I went in and apologised to him (Gee) afterwards. I just lost my cool at the time, and I’ve got to be better than that. I’ll try to maintain my distance from him (coach Craig Bellamy) for a while.

“I’m sure he will be disappointed in me. I let the team down and he’s all about a team-first mentality. He (Gee) was all good, he just said: ‘I can’t cop that’. I said: ‘I’m sorry I took my frustration out on you’. I was probably just annoyed at my own performance.”

Players have previously been fined for criticising the performance of referees. The loss to Cronulla means Melbourne’s hopes of challenging Penrith for the minor premiership are all but over.

It was the Storm’s second loss in the space of seven days after a defeat to Manly. Bellamy labelled their effort in the Manly game as “soft” and he put the Storm through their paces in a bruising training session last week with Smith coming off worse as a result of some friendly fire.

“I got a little bit of a sore rib at training and it was sore tonight,” he said. “I copped a few whacks to it (tonight but) I can’t say (who did it).”

Smith said he was concerned by Melbourne’s defence after they have conceded 64 points across their last two games.

“It is very uncharacteristic of this club,” he said. “There wasn’t the response we needed this week. We’ve got a lot of injuries but this isn’t what this club is about. We are a defensively-minded team and we’re trying to find the easy options.”

Meanwhile Sharks forward Briton Nikora is facing a ban of 1-2 games for a hip drop tackle while there’s been some controversy that Andrew Fifita is only facing a fine of $1000-$1500 for a dangerous throw on Smith.

(Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

ScoMo a no go for rugby league gig

Former Prime Minister Scott Morrison has denied reports that he is trying to get a seat on the ARL Commission, dismissing it as “pub talk”.

Reports surfaced on Thursday night that he was keen to become a Commissioner although chairman Peter V’landys had indicated that he had not received any official approaches from the Morrison camp.

Morrison, a Sharks fan who has been seen at many games over the past few seasons, has kept a low profile since he lost office in May when Labor’s Anthony Albanese won the federal election.

“Sounds to me like just a bit of pub talk,” he said via a statement.

“Love the NRL and my Sharks, and Peter V’landys and (NRL CEO) Andrew Abdo have done a great job. I really enjoyed working with them as PM to get through COVID and to expand the Pacific program.”

Scott Morrison at a Cronulla NRL game at Shark Park. (Photo by Cameron Spencer/Getty Images)

Sea Eagles veteran flies off to UK

Manly have granted winger Jorge Taufua an early release from his NRL contract as Super League clubs circle the veteran.

Taufua, 30, has played 164 games over a decade for the Sea Eagles and scored 88 tries but has struggled to break into the line-up in recent times, making only one appearance this year.

He paid tribute to the club for showing faith in him, enabling him to find success including scoring a try in their 2013 grand-final loss against the Sydney Roosters.

“I am grateful to the people who helped shape and develop my career here, those who helped picked me up to return time and time again,” he said.

“But most of all, I am grateful for the countless memories and experiences with my brothers I went to battle with.”

Taufua has been linked with a move to Wakefield Trinity, where he is believed to be headed for the rest of the Super League season.

Manly coach Des Hasler said the winger had been a pleasure to coach.

“He has given the Sea Eagles tremendous service over a decade and is very much respected by not only his teammates and coaching staff, but by all of his peers across the game,” he said.

“Jorge goes about his business in a quiet way and is a very humble man, but when it comes to sheer toughness and putting your body on the line for your team he is right up there.”