Last season’s NTFL finalists the Tiwi Bombers set to make minimal changes to coaching staff
THE Tiwi Bombers will have a lot of sameness about them when the 20-21 NTFL season kicks off in October
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THE Tiwi Bombers will have a lot of sameness about them when the 20-21 NTFL season kicks off in October.
The Bombers’ general manager Leigh Crossman wants last season’s coaching staff of Shane Tipuamantimirri, Jamie Scrymgour and Cyril (Junior Boy) Rioli to again take charge of on-field proceedings.
Tipuamantimirri and Scrymgour formed a dual senior coaching team last season, with Norm Smith medallist and four-time premiership player Rioli performing an assistant-mentoring role.
“Everything’s pretty much normal over here, with no changes in lifestyle and no training commencing in between seasons and coronavirus precautions,’’ Crossman said.
“We haven’t had a board meeting yet where the coaching subject will obviously come up. But the board’s intention will be to offer the coaching role to both Shane and Jamie again.
“From the conversations I’ve had with them, they are both keen to do it again, so I don’t see any reason why it won’t be that way.’’
Crossman said while nothing was official until the board meeting, last season’s coaching staff had been put in place on a long-term basis.
“There’s nothing official, but the fact is we didn’t appoint them for one year,’’ he added. “Our focus was on more towards a long-term goal and that has not changed.’’
Retired Bomber Simon Munkara will feature in the Bombers’ plans going forward after he ended his playing career following the first semi-final loss to Southern Districts.
“We haven’t put a lot of pressure on Simon after the active role he played over a lot of years with our footy club, the Buffaloes and Wanderers,’’ Crossman said.
“Now he’s retired from playing we’ll definitely find some sort of role for him, whether that is as an assistant or mentoring role, time will tell.
“And it’s our intention to keep Cyril Rioli involved again, hopefully we’ll have that sorted pretty soon.’’
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