Kimmorley chasing instant NRLW success as club lands first recruit

Brett Kimmorley was fittingly watching his teenage daughters play Oztag in Northern NSW when the interview requests started coming in after he was announced as Wests Tigers inaugural NRLW coach.

A father of four daughters, Kimmorley has only ever known living in a household of women for the past two decades, meaning his next coaching opportunity won’t be an unfamiliar setting.

When the opportunity arose for the former Wests Tigers interim coach to take the lead of the club’s inaugural NRLW season, he jumped at it after a gruelling three months in charge at the NRL level.

Kimmorley was the club’s Harvey Norman NSW Premiership coach when the competition kicked off in April before Michael Maguire was let go, allowing for Kimmorley to take over.

“I’ve learned a lot this year around the good, bad, ugly, great and amazing opportunities and every step of the way my daughters and partner have been there,” Kimmorley told NRL.com.

“They come to games and love to be a part of it. They love to see you go to work which is a nice part of my private life. I always knew I had good support sitting in the grandstand.

“My pathways role at the club was something I put in place after the NRL coaching and part of that included working with young women who were part of the Harvey Norman [NSW Premiership].

“Coaching them at the start of the year, I said to the girls that we created a great environment, and you could see how much they developed.

“When I left them to take on the NRL role they were very supportive, and I was really proud with how they went on to make it successful by winning a title.

“I’m really excited to go back to that space knowing there is a bit of momentum behind it as well.”

Injured fullback Botille Vette-Welsh is expected be among the club’s inaugural signings with the NSW and Australian representative on track to make a return from her ACL injury when the NRLW kicks off next year.

“With Bo being one of our stars and a local girl, I didn’t get to coach her this year because of her injury but I’m excited about her being part of our NRLW team,” Kimmorley said.

“She’ll inspire many other girls to play rugby league because they’ve watched her play, and you can build a team around her.

“I don’t know how many others will stay from the Harvey Norman side this year but I’m sure there will be some new players who come in as well.”

Kimmorley wouldn’t be drawn into other potential signings like Jess Sergis or Kezie Apps, who played for the Wests Tigers in the HNWP this season, or McGregor sisters Raecene and Page, who also played for the club previously.

The 46-year-old recently attended the NRLW’s triple header in Round 5 with Wests Tigers’ Head of Pathways Matt Betsey as the club looks to focus in their 2023 roster.

“A lot of the girls are at the start of their careers and the appreciation is amazing in the NRLW,” Kimmorley said.

“I thought the quality of football got better in the past season compared to the 2021 season and I think the Harvey Norman competition between seasons helped take it to a new level.”

Newcastle showed their ability to go from cellar dwellers to premiers in the space of six months with a strong recruitment drive.

“Players showed they’re not afraid of leaving their old club to become branded stars elsewhere.

“The success the Knights had with some of their players and the decisions they made, everyone will want to follow that but you’ve also got to go out and invest.

"If we can bring a star or two to our club others may follow. We’ll try and be as successful as we can.”