NRLW: The women leading the charge to become head coaches
NRLW assistant coach Kylie Hilder has called for all NRL clubs to mentor and give opportunities to the talented female coaches across Australia.
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NRLW assistant coach Kylie Hilder has called for all NRL clubs to mentor and give opportunities to the talented female coaches across Australia.
Hilder - who has played for the Sydney Roosters, NSW Blues and Australian Jillaroos — has thrived since joining the Roosters coaching staff in 2019 and now she is determined to become the club’s first female NRLW head coach.
“My goal is to be that head coach at the Sydney Roosters,” Hilder said.
“They gave me the Nines (head coach role) at the beginning of the year. The Nines format suited me a lot more, it was fast and free-flowing, it suited my touch football background, I felt really comfortable taking that role,” Hilder said.
“The Roosters had offered me that head job previously but I said I wasn’t ready because I felt that I needed to learn more. But after these eight months, leading into next year, I’ll definitely be looking at getting a higher role moving forward.”
Over the past five years, the number of women coaching across the whole game has increased by 98 per cent.
NRL clubs have employed a handful of female physiotherapists, trainers and strength and conditioning coaches, however, women have not yet pinned down senior coaching roles in the elite men’s competition.
“It’s slowly coming through, but I think it’s the fear factor for a female too. For the last two or three years I’ve knocked back coaching gigs because I’ve thought I’m not ready for it,” Hilder said.
“But I think now that females are starting to get more confidence in themselves, they are understanding the game better, and our male counterparts are starting to open up and be more supportive.”
For Hilder, Roosters and NSW coaches Trent Robinson, John Strange, Rick Stone and Andy Patmore have been key to her development.
“Any NRL club should be looking at doing that, having those mentors there to help,” Hilder said.
“In times gone by, male coaches just dismissed a female giving suggestions on how you should run a play or do something in a game. But now they’re openly helping these females, who are now going: OK well I actually can do this.
“We’re slowly getting rid of that perception that women don’t belong on the football field, our game has evolved from that. Now we’re getting rid of that perception that women aren’t coaches in a male dominated sport either.”
New Zealand’s Luisa Avaiki made history as the NRLW’s first female head coach and Jillaroos coach Brad Donald believes that plenty of Australian women will follow suit.
“We won’t be too far off seeing people like Tahnee Norris, Kylie Hilder, Nat Dwyer and Karyn Murphy take head coach roles in the NRLW,” Donald said.
“I’m not sure how far away until we see that in the men’s side of things. It shouldn’t be too much longer. Because now, younger male coaches have been exposed to both male and female coaches through the community level of the game and into representative levels.”
Both Donald and Hilder are optimistic and feel that the inevitable expansion of the NRLW would also help aspiring coaches.
“Having two more teams, two more opportunities where teams will have coaches, that’s another six opportunities for aspiring coaches,” Donald said.
“As clubs and teams learn to unlock the potential within females, they’re going to benefit greatly.”
FEMALE FOOTY COACHES TO WATCH.
Tahnee Norris: Most capped Jillaroos player in history (32 appearances). Coached the Burleigh Bears to five premierships in the Queensland’s Holcim Cup. Former Jillaroos strength and conditioning coach and has assisted Donald with coaching duties. Has also coached cricket, rugby sevens and is the program manager for Paddle Australia.
Nat Dwyer: Former Jillaroo, listed as the Jillaroos‘ No.1 player in history. Assistant coach for QLD women’s State of Origin side. Has also coached North Ipswich and Ipswich Brothers in Brisbane’s women’s rugby league competition.
Karyn Murphy: Former Jillaroo. Assistant coach of the Jillaroos and QLD’s women’s State of Origin side. NRLW grand final “Karyn Murphy Medal” was named in her honour.
Kylie Hilder: Jillaroo, NSW and Roosters NRLW star who has transitioned into coaching. Also played touch football for Australia. Hilder has recently transitioned into coaching and has been part of the Chooks’ NRLW coaching team since 2019.
Lisa Fiaola: Represented Australia in rugby league and union. Recently appointed head coach of the North Sydney Bears’ Harvey Norman Women’s Premiership (HNWP) team. Assisted Brad Donald with coaching the Warriors NRLW team in 2020.
Kate Mullaly and Ruan Sims: coached the Cronulla Sharks Tarsha Gale Cup under 18s side.
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