Kylie Hilder appointed NSW women’s Origin coach, Geoff Toovey joins coaching staff

Just months after finishing her decorated career, Kylie Hilder has been appointed NSW women’s Origin coach — and she will assisted by a former Blues great.

New NSW women’s Origin coach Kylie Hilder and former Manly coach Geoff Toovey. Picture: Toby Zerna

Kylie Hilder has moved seamlessly from rugby league star to women’s NSW Origin coach in a groundbreaking rugby league move.

Hilder has been appointed NSW women’s coach just months after finishing her decorated career and will have a more than able assistant in former Blues captain and ex-Manly mentor Geoff Toovey.

She will become the first female Origin coach in the professional era after a glittering career that included an Origin win in 2019 and back-to-back premierships with Country Rugby League Newcastle (2019) and Central Coast Roosters (2020) in the Harvey Norman NSW women’s premiership.

Kylie Hilder will become the first female NSW women’s Origin coach in the professional era. Picture: Toby Zerna

“It is an honour to be named coach of the NSW women’s Origin team and I can’t wait to get started,” Hilder said.

“I’d like to thank the NSW Rugby League for giving me this amazing opportunity to continue my career in rugby league and help to further develop the women’s game.

“To have played Origin just last year with this group and now to be coaching them in the next year is a privilege and something I certainly won’t take for granted.”

Hilder played for the Roosters in their grand-final loss to Brisbane in the inaugural NRLW grand final in 2018. She was an assistant at the Roosters last season and has stated her ambition to become a head coach of an NRLW side.

“I have said in the past that more female coaches needed to be introduced in order for the game to thrive and now to have four of the state’s coaching positions held by women is a fantastic development and a huge step in the right direction,” Hilder said.

“To be the first female coach of the women’s Origin team is something really special. I look forward to building and creating a culture around this team, alongside my assistant Geoff Toovey, and I’m confident we can return the shield to NSW.”

New NSW women’s Origin coach Kylie Hilder will be assisted by former Manly coach Geoff Toovey. Picture: Toby Zerna

Toovey’s appointment is also a coup for NSW. He played 15 games for the Blues before a successful stint as Manly coach.

Four of the six coaching positions in the NSWRL women’s pathways will be held by females, including Lisa Fiaola (City open women), Kate Mullaly (City under-19s) and Alicia Hawke (Country under-19s).

Fiaola, Mullaly and Hawke have had coaching experience in competitions, including the Tarsha Gale Cup.

Hilder replaces Andy Patmore as coach.

Queensland beat NSW 24-18 in last year’s Origin clash.