New head coach Gav Walsh looking to restore winning ways at Warilla-Lake South Gorillas in 2024
There’ll be a new head honcho at the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas after a torrid title defence in 2023. Hear from the new man at the wheel and how he’ll look to repair the club.
Illawarra Star
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There will be a fresh face at the helm of the Warilla-Lake South Gorillas in the 2024 Group 7 rugby league season with Gav Walsh taking up the job of head coach from next season.
Earlier this week the Gorillas took to social media to announce the departure of 2022 premiership winning and current head coaches Neil Farmilo and Troy Grant, later announcing the appointment of Walsh to the top spot.
Walsh has the tough job of rebuilding the side after a torrid 2023 season, which to date has seen the Gorillas pick up just four wins from 12 games in a title defence season riddled with injuries and disciplinary issues.
Walsh is prepared for the challenge though and is excited at the prospect of his first head coaching role.
“I’ve had it on my personal agenda for a while now and there’s no better club to do it than Warilla,” Walsh said.
“As with every coach change, there’ll be a refreshed view on things, a refreshed style.
“I’m looking forward to getting down to it and getting to work.”
Walsh is no newcomer to the Gorillas having been the reserve grade coach for a number of years past.
He also has experience in reserve grade and assistant coaching roles at the Shellharbour Sharks and his junior club Port Kembla.
Taking a year off in 2023, Walsh has still kept up with the Gorillas and their struggles this season, saying he’s keen to get to work to repair a side that is no doubt shook from the plague of bad fortune that seems to have come their way this season.
“That’s the challenge isn’t it, seeing what you can do differently to those before you,” Walsh said.
“If I can help the guys through footy, my hope is that they can take it away from the game and into their personal lives, then that’s my job done.
“It’s about that personal interaction, finding them out as people and seeing what they bring on and off the park.”
The Gorillas have been unable to build any sustainable momentum in 2023 due to a seemingly endless string of injuries, notably in the halves, with the same five-eighth and halfback combination only starting together on two occasions this season.
“Injuries are a part of footy,” Walsh said.
“All we can do is prepare the best we can and hopefully not have the same toll next year.
“We’re lucky enough to have a new clubhouse being built and some new facilities being prepared in the background, so hopefully that translates to a better run next year.”
The Gorillas have nine Group 7 premierships to their name, the last of which was came via their triumph over the Gerringong Lions in the 2022 grand final.
“It’s a great town and the club means a lot to the people,” Walsh said.
“Everyone’s incorporated, it’s a big family club, I have a young family myself and I’ve always felt very included and at home with everything going on.
“It’s a passionate and loyal supporter base, so we want to do them proud the best we can.”
“Any coach would be lying if they said the goal wasn’t to win the competition.
“We want to be at the top, not just in the first grade, but across all grades including the ladies tackle and league tag.
“We’ve all got that common goal and I feel confident with the plans we have in place.”
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