CSB - Ronald Griffiths - Warriors NRLW Coach

Two-times premiership-winning coach Ronald Griffiths has been secured on a three-year deal to lead the One New Zealand Warriors back into the NRLW next season.

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:00):
Rugby league on the country Sport Breakfast with Pet Stop
your Cars service Doctor using the latest technology.

Speaker 2 (00:08):
Talking rugby league now on the show and two time
premiership winning coach Ronald Griffiths has been secured on a
three year deal to lead the one New Zealand Warriors
back into the NRL the Women's League next season, joining
us on the show, the man himself, Ronald Griffith, Ronald,
good morning, congratulations mate.

Speaker 1 (00:26):
Yeah, good morning, Brian, thanks for that. I mean, I
certainly really excited about the opportunity.

Speaker 2 (00:31):
I need you be crossing the ditch and becoming a
KEI we looking.

Speaker 1 (00:35):
Forward to it. Can't wait to immerse ourselves in the
culture over there. That's going to be one of the highlights.

Speaker 2 (00:41):
What was it about this job that you sort of thought, gee,
I'm going to apply for that. I fancy it.

Speaker 1 (00:47):
I think yeah, first and foremost was the opportunity to
go and take my family on an experience. And then
I've watched the Warriors from Afar and their growth and
it's been the ground swell of support over there, and
I just I thought to be involved in anaugural year
and build that same sort of platform and get that
ground swell of support would be, you know, a tantalizing.

Speaker 2 (01:10):
Job you've I mean, you've coached quite a bit before.
You coach the Indigenous All Stars to consecutive wins over
the Module Stars, so you kind of know what it
takes to coach your winning side, really, don't you.

Speaker 1 (01:21):
I mean, I think if you're clear on what you
want to achieve. You know, everyone that plays at that
level is very talented. But if you're clear on the
way you want to do things and what you want
to achieve, well, success sometimes it can follow that. And
I think one of my strengths is getting a team
to work towards a common goal. So you know, hopefully
we can have that same sort of success over time
with the Warriors. But I think importantly I've been able

(01:43):
to set up the female pathways and create some long
term sustainable success is the key.

Speaker 2 (01:49):
What's the first move as a coach when you're starting,
because you really you start with a clean slate, don't you.

Speaker 1 (01:54):
Yeah, I think looking for the right character. Obviously, you
know we want talent to boot, but you can find
the players with the right character that are coming for
the right reasons. Well, yeah, I mean that's always always
a great starting point.

Speaker 2 (02:07):
You've had experiences I mentioned with the indigenous team with
the nrl W premierships in twenty twenty two to twenty three.
So it's now expanded to twelve teams for twenty twenty five,
So you know, can you see a peak? I mean,
where's the cutoff point for that?

Speaker 1 (02:23):
I think that they'll eventually align the teams with the
men's over time. That will take some time, but I
think the growth in the female game is going to
be exponential. I just you know in Australia, it's spreading rapidly.
Everyone wants to play in RLW and we can see
the young girls that are breaking through and I've no
doubt New Zealand will be the same.

Speaker 2 (02:42):
From an ossie perspective, is there a sense over the
ditch that the Warriors are doing something special most of
the time as a club constantly, you know, doing exceptionally
will sell out crowds at their games and so on.

Speaker 1 (02:57):
You've just said it, there go media stadium sold out.

Speaker 2 (02:59):
Yeah.

Speaker 1 (03:00):
I come from a little community called Newcastle and whether
you're going well or you're not going well, Newcastle supporters
turn up and worry is supported through the same watching
from far in Australia. Everyone can see that, you know,
we hear at an audi and around it they're set
out to the stadium. It's it's fantastic and yeah, that's
a really great brand of football too.

Speaker 2 (03:19):
It'd be great to get that up the wires backing
for the for the women's league too, wouldn't.

Speaker 1 (03:23):
It day Definitely definitely up the way Andy, I like it.

Speaker 2 (03:27):
So what's what's on the calendar? When do you move over?
When does it all start for you?

Speaker 1 (03:32):
November one it starts, so I'd say I will spend
a little bit of time, come over early on with
the family, have a little look around for some commendation
and probably move over transition across full time early next
year in twenty twenty five.

Speaker 2 (03:46):
Fantastic exciting time for women's rugby league in New Zealand.
Royal great to join us out in Newcastle, Thank you
so much any time.

Speaker 1 (03:53):
Thank you well.

Speaker 2 (03:54):
Ronald Griffiths joining us New Worries in r LW coach.
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