Coaches commit to Wolves

WARRINGTON Wolves’ coaches Willie Poching and Richard Marshall have both agreed one-year contract extensions with the club.
Head of coaching and rugby Tony Smith showed his commitment to the club last year by extending his stay until the end of 2013 and the Wolves have now confirmed that first team coach Poching (pictured right) and assistant first team coach Marshall (left) will work alongside him for the 2012 season.
As part of the coaching set-up Richard has seen the Wolves lift Carnegie Challenge Cup trophies and compete at the top of the league. He has also built a successful under 20s side as their head coach winning the 2011 Rugby League 9s title and reaching the Valvoline Cup Grand Final having finished second in the table.
Willie joined the coaching staff from Leeds Rhinos at the start of last season seeing the team top the league and reach the semi-final stages of the play-offs in his first year at the club.
Richard said: “Tony’s been here a couple of years now and we all know what he expects and are all learning and developing under him. Willie came in last season and has had a real positive impact on the squad and I feel we work really well together.
“I feel privileged in my job and feel it’s a really good role as you’re developing the players in the under 20s too. We got to the Valvoline Cup Grand Final in 2011 and out of that squad seven have moved up through to the first team training squad so to see them develop and flourish under Tony and the rest of the coaching staff is really exciting. Last year we had Rhys Evans and Gareth O’Brien who went into the first team and established themselves so hopefully we can get a couple more this time around.
“I wouldn’t want to be anywhere else as I think the signings we’ve made and the structures we have in place with the young players coming through will make a bright future for the club.”
Willie added: “I absolutely loved my first year. I spoke about it on a couple of occasions throughout the season, about how much I was enjoying myself and that hasn’t changed. I’ve had time to reflect on the season gone and all the fun we’ve had including the new friends that I’ve made and working relationships that have had a really positive impact on me including with both the coaches and the players. It’s been a fantastic learning curve for me in my career.
“There haven’t been too many changes ahead of next season and the squad is really positive about going forward and hopefully there are some good times ahead. They know what it takes to be positive and do the best they can and we’ll just try to get that out of them again.”