Paul Magher signs on as Wanderers women’s coach for the 2025-26 NTFL season

Wanderers have recruited an experienced coach committed to tackling the challenge of turning the women’s competition battlers into a renewed force. Read what he hopes to bring to the side.

Wanderers have recruited an experienced coach eager and committed to tackling the challenge of turning the women’s competition battlers into a renewed force.

The Wanderers women have not won a game in the Premier League since Round 18 of the 2021-22 season, incidentally against Tracy Village before they were removed from the top level.

They’ve since languished with heavy defeats, including a 40.16 (256) to 0.0 (0) loss to Nightcliff in Round 3 of 2023-24, that forced a competition change to no time added on for the 2024-25 season.

However, it was never for a lack of trying for those who turned up each week and ensured a game was played instead of forfeiting when the odds were stacked against them.

The Muk Muks have recruited Paul Magher to come on board carrying with him 30 years of coaching experience and importantly a commitment to give three years to the side.

Wanderers president Josh Wilson (right) with new senior women's coach Paul Magher for the 2024-25 NTFL season.

Magher has worked with clubs across the NTFL and linked up with the Eagles during the 2024-25 season stepping into a club he wanted to see return to its heyday.

“I joined helping out Aaron Motlop in the men’s space seeing it as an opportunity to step into a club that’s had a fair amount of success but not recently,” he said.

“However, I always kept a close eye on the women’s space because I’ve been there and coached them before so it was a choice between staying with the men and taking on that responsibility.

“The program needs a lot of work but I woke up one day and decided that what I want to do is take on that fledgling side and build something over the next couple of years for those girls.

“They’ve gone through a lot of heartache and were often lucky to score, but there’s girls with skills there and a culture where they turn up week in week out.

“It’s not a case of there just being 10 girls there and I need to find 40 others, there’s enough players to fill two teams and a camaraderie that shows this can be a good fit and we can get back on track.”

Wanderers in the 2024-25 NTFL season. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Magher said it was crucial to build a group around stability and for him that started with putting his name down for three years.

The decision also allowed him to build a three year plan around a young group geared towards progress at the end of each season.

“They see coaches coming and going and they’re going to think if they don’t want to be here what’s the point of us being here?” he said.

“This is not a one or two year program where we know this is what we need to each year and by the time of year three the current juniors will come into a stronger senior program.

“It’s about strengthening the junior program, because there’s an age gap where players are falling off across the board and we need to give them something to encourage them to keep playing.”

Wanderers’ Tiffany Parriman (pictured with Waratah’s Brittany Daly) has been a mainstay in the women’s team. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

Before it comes to winning games the goal for Magher is to cement the culture and build on the nucleus of players Wanderers has at its disposal.

“The first and most important thing is to create a culture where we can eventually be competitive but also a safe space and where they’re appreciated and can make a difference,” he said.

“We’re trying to build something here from rock bottom, we’ve got a nucleus and a club that’s been around for 100 years but we need to rectify and rebuild.

“We’re focused on building around locals, that’s what we want to tap into and I will make no apologies about trying to make this team better than it was last year.”

Originally published as Paul Magher signs on as Wanderers women’s coach for the 2025-26 NTFL season