Hilder, Toovey team up for NSW Women's Origin
The NSWRL is pleased to announce that former NSW Women’s Origin star Kylie Hilder has been appointed coach of the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Origin team with former NRL coach and True Blue Geoff Toovey to act as assistant for the 2021 Ampol Women’s Origin match.
Hilder retired last year after a distinguished career which saw her win the Origin Shield in 2019 and back-to-back premierships with CRL Newcastle (2019) and Central Coast Roosters (2020) in the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership. Toovey won a premiership as a player at Manly in 1996 before coaching the Sea Eagles from 2012-15.
In a significant milestone for the progression and development of the women’s game, four of the six coaching positions for women’s pathways teams will be held by females including Lisa Fiaola (City Open Women), Kate Mullaly (City Under 19s) and Alicia Hawke (Country Under 19s). Fiaola, Mullaly and Hawke have all had coaching experience in competitions including the Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup.
“It is an absolute honour to be named coach of the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Origin team and I can’t wait to get started,” Hilder said.
“I’d like to thank NSWRL for giving me this amazing opportunity to continue my career in Rugby League and help to further develop the women’s game.
“To have played Origin just last year with this group and now to be coaching them in the next year is a privilege and something I certainly won’t take for granted.
“I have said in the past that more female coaches needed to be introduced in order for the game to thrive and now to have four of the state's coaching positions held by women is a fantastic development and a huge step in the right direction.
“I look forward to building and creating a culture around this team, alongside my assistant Geoff Toovey, and I’m confident we can return the Shield to NSW.”
The NSWRL is committed to leading the way to developing genuine career pathways for women in the game through its actions. Five months ago Karra-Lee Nolan became the first-ever female referee to be appointed to control a decider in a NSWRL major competition for the Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership at Bankwest Stadium.
2021 Women’s Representative Coaching Appointments
Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Origin – Kylie Hilder (coach), Geoff Toovey (assistant coach), Yvette Downey (team manager)
Harvey Norman Women’s Under 19s Origin – Blake Cavallaro (coach), Alicia Hawke (assistant coach), Kate Parkinson (team manager)
City Open – Lisa Fiaola (coach), Darrin Borthwick (assistant coach), Stacey Drury (team manager)
Country Open – Adam Bezzina (coach), Mitch Brasington (assistant coach), Jess Skinner (team manager)
City Under 19s – Kate Mullaly (coach), Ryan Walker (assistant coach), Liz Callaghan (team manager)
Country Under 19s – Alicia Hawke (coach), Chris Kirkland (assistant coach), Michelle Graham (team manager)