Matty Smith joins Wigan as Academy coach

[josie andrews]

* Matty Smith to become Wigan Academy Head Coach.

* Smith joins for 2025 on a four-year deal.

* Smith: “I’m looking forward to working with all the coaches from across the Club and improving and developing myself as a coach also and I can’t wait to get started.”

WIGAN WARRIORS ARE PLEASED TO ANNOUNCE THAT MATTY SMITH WILL BECOME ACADEMY HEAD COACH FROM THE 2025 SEASON.

Smith will rejoin the Warriors for whom he played 139 games at halfback between 2012 and 2016 winning two Super League Grand Finals and a Challenge Cup. He also won the Lance Todd Trophy in 2013 and made the Dream Team twice during his time at Wigan.

After leaving Wigan, he rejoined his hometown club St Helens and went on to play for Catalans Dragons, Warrington Wolves (loan) and Widnes Vikings.

The 37-year-old took charge of the St.Helens Women’s team in December 2022 leading them to a second-place finish in the league, also leading them to three consecutive Challenge Cup wins. During the 2023 season, he worked alongside Paul Wellens as a first team assistant.

Wigan Warriors Chief Executive Kris Radlinski said: “Matty has always had a tremendous, forward thinking rugby league brain. He used it productively as a player and has more recently expressed this through the teams he has coached. Having done an amazing job with the St.Helens Women’s team, he now has a desire to progress the coaching of the elite young men.

“Matt Peet and I met with him and his passion for coaching shone through. I think he will be an outstanding addition to our Club’s performance team ”

Head Coach Matt Peet said: “Matty was heavily involved in coaching our juniors when he was playing here and his passion for coaching is clear to see. We are excited to welcome him back into the Club.

“He has been very impressive in the way he has led his teams over recent seasons. Our academy players will be in great hands.”

Matty Smith said: “I’ve had two fantastic years with St Helens women’s and I’ve thoroughly enjoyed that experience and we’ve been a very successful group.

“This is an opportunity I couldn’t turn down, I see this as a really big role and an important one that allows me to work with and develop young talented individuals that this Club has always produced.

“I’m looking forward to working with all the coaches from across the Club and improving and developing myself as a coach also and I can’t wait to get started.”

https://wiganwarriors.com/blog/2024/10/ ... emy-coach/

[josie andrews]

Spoke to him last Friday before the GF send off lunch he was attending with the players & their families.

[Beryl O'Neill]

Excellent news always liked him as a player

[josie andrews]

Excellent news always liked him as a player

He’s a nice bloke as well, been friends with him for years & kept in touch with him & his wife since he left us

[fozzie58]

Very sound move this good to see them nailing down an academy coach on the long deal they needed to do this as for it being Matty Smith much better players than his detractors would have you think and is turning into a fine coach it seems the work he did with an albeit very good saints women’s side shows he knows what he’s doing.

Good to have him back.

[doc]

Good move.

I personally thought the Academy and Scholarship didn't quite have the class of previous years though this wasn't helped by so many having to step up to Reserves/first team.

Its always hard to tell with age-group rugby as some years you get a lot of decent players, others you don't. Think it was John Monie who said you are lucky to get two a year who make the grade at first team level.

[Firestarter]

Very glad to have him back and think hes definately got more to offer than tomkins.Has he got more to offer than briers though? Thats if he helps out with the first team

[DaveO]

Good move.

I personally thought the Academy and Scholarship didn't quite have the class of previous years though this wasn't helped by so many having to step up to Reserves/first team.

Its always hard to tell with age-group rugby as some years you get a lot of decent players, others you don't. Think it was John Monie who said you are lucky to get two a year who make the grade at first team level.

Yes it was John Monie. A quote of his I have always remembered.