Warriors announce premiership-winning coach for NRLW return in 2025
Two-time premiership-winning coach Ronald Griffiths has signed a three-year deal to lead the return of the New Zealand Warriors into the NRL Women’s Premiership next season.
The Warriors last had a team in the NRLW in 2019 but Covid-19 forced the club to withdraw.
Griffiths, who coached the Newcastle Knights to back-to-back NRLW premierships in 2022 and 2023, said what excited him and his family was going to a country that practices “live culture”.
“Being an Aboriginal man, that’s extremely important to me.”
He took a rol as the Knight’s NSW Cup team coach following the premiership wins and has also been the head coach of the Indigenous All Stars.
He also said he was not ruling out the prospect of taking on players from the rival code.
“It’s a marvellous opportunity for the players playing rugby [union] at the moment to come across and experience a game that’s growing
“One thing that rugby [union] do well in New Zealand, they are really good, coached players. Their athleticism is great, we would be open to some players to coming across.”
NZ Warriors chief executive Cameron George said he was “absolutely thrilled” to have Griffith on board for the club’s return to the NRLW.
“It was critical to appoint the best possible coach for this role and we’ve been able to do that.
“Ron has terrific coaching pedigree and will add tremendous value to our club as we make our way back in the NRLW.”
Griffiths starts his role at the Warriors in November after his New South Wales cup duties wrap up.
