Ricky Nolan takes over as Waratah men’s coach for 2024-25 NTFL season

A NTFL club has made a huge coaching coup just a week after the close of the season signing one of the Top End’s best coaches.

March 22: Waratah have pulled off a major coaching coup less than a week after the close of the 2023-24 NTFL season.

Premiership winning coach Rick Nolan, fresh off his third women’s premier league victory in four years with PINT, has signed on for the top job at Gardens Oval.

Nolan has established himself as one of the best coaches in the Top End having led the St Mary’s men and PINT women to premiership success.

He takes over from Ryan Ayres, who coached the club for six years including the drought-breaking 2022-23 premiership.

Ayres stepped down earlier in the week giving Nolan the chance to return to the helm of a men’s side, something he was excited to accept.

“I have a lot of friends and connections at Waratah such as one of my closest friends in Anthony Hoban and the Carrolls,” Nolan said.

“I’ve coached the girls for a while and felt they needed a new voice, and when this opportunity came I was really grateful and grabbed it with both hands.

Rick Nolan and Waratah president Rohan Langworthy. Picture: Waratah Football Club

“They’re a club in a healthy place and it’s a good coaching job to get, I’m very happy to jump in particularly as I wanted to get back into the men’s space.

“They’ve got a great history and are positioned just a kilometre from the city with a lot of good people, a lot being in my friendship group.”

Nolan had a massive year with the PINT women who went undefeated on the way to completing what he refers to as a dynasty with three premierships from four seasons.

He also coached the NTFL women’s representative team to success against Essendon in January cementing his place as an elite coach in the Top End.

“Being in women’s football has made me a significantly better coach coming back into men’s football, and I’ve loved every minute of it,” Nolan said.

“I came in thinking it would just be one year after coaching St Mary’s, but I loved my time with that group so much that I ended up there for four years.

Rick Nolan and Waratah president Rohan Langworthy. Picture: Waratah Football Club

“I think the growth not only in the group, but women’s football as a whole has been amazing, it’s one of the best women’s comps in Australia and was great to be involved in.”

Now his eyes are set on season 2024-25 where he will be hoping to extend his personal streak of victories and pull in a strong group of coaches and players.

“I just want to surround myself with a good coaching group and get in touch with as many players as I can and get them living in Darwin for the season,” he said.

“The young blokes in Dwayne Kerinauia and Timmy Kerinauia as well as Anthony Munkara are the guys who I’m particularly keen to work with, they’re good players with up and coming futures.”

In a post, club president Rohan Langworthy said Nolan would elevate the club to new heights.

“We are thrilled to welcome Ricky Nolan as Head Coach to our club,” he said.

“His experience and dedication will undoubtedly elevate the club to new heights.”

Premiership winning coach steps down

March 19: Waratah’s premiership winning coach Ryan Ayres has decided to step down from the role after six years in the top job.

Ayres leaves behind an undeniable legacy at the club, being the side’s longest serving Men’s Premier League coach in its 107 years, and breaking a 23-year premiership drought.

The club experienced a resurgence in his coaching tenure going from NTFL also-rans to premiership contenders.

And then in the 2022-23 season they broke the NTFL’s longest title drought when they beat Southern Districts 10.10 (70) to 7.10 (52).

Plenty of players that have become heroes of the past few years established themselves in the NTFL under Ayres’ coaching and are likely to remain key figures for years to come.

Ayres approached the Waratah committee over the Christmas break to make them aware of his decision, and has expressed his commitment to helping in the recruitment and handover process.

Waratah head coach Ryan Ayres has stepped down after a successful six years in the job. Picture: Pema Tamang Pakhrin

He remains deeply committed to the club’s future and with his two sons still part of the club’s junior program he will continue to help the club push for success in the years to come.

Ayres said changing commitments in his family and personal life forced him to step down after what had been a hugely successful time in the club’s history.

“I’ve been fortunate enough to coach Waratah over the past six seasons in which my family and I have created so many life long memories and friendships,” he said.

“We are extremely grateful for the help and support we’ve had from so many different people.

“Unfortunately as our kids grow older, their commitments also increase and therefore I have made the decision to prioritise my family and stand down from coaching.

“I truly believe the foundations are in place for this great club to continue achieving excellent results both on and off the field.”

In a post the Waratah Football Club extended their gratitude to Ayres thanking him for his coaching tenure, which included a prior nine year stint as assistant coach.

“The WFC would like to thank Ayresey for his years of service, not only six years as MPL Head Coach, but his earlier nine-year period as Assistant Coach,” the post read.

“Ayresey’s dedication and commitment to the Club is unwavering and he leaves a legacy in our history books as a Premiership Head Coach.

“Not only are we appreciative of all that Ayresey has given, we also extend our sincere gratitude to Laura, Brodie, Alessio and the extended Ayres family.”