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Men's Coaches
Since 1922 the Club has appointed official Head Coaches (with a few exceptions), with the coaching responsibility given to captains, to lead the side, in the formative years of the competition.
Some of the greatest coaches in the code's history have held the clipboard in charge of the Tricolours, including Arthur 'Pony' Halloway, Jack Gibson, Bob Fulton, Phil Gould and current mentor Trent Robinson.
The name and years served as the Sydney Roosters Head Coach are listed below, together with many significant coaching statistics.
Last Update: 31st December, 2025
Roosters First Grade Men's Coaches |
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| Years | Coach No. |
Name | Date of Birth |
Date of Birth |
Games Coached |
W | L | D | Win % |
| 1922 - 1924 | 1 | Ray Norman | 30/11/1888 | 29/04/1971 | 41 | 26 | 13 | 2 | 63.41% |
| 1926 | 2 | Jack Watkins # | 12/02/1893 | 13/07/1974 | 17 | 9 | 7 | 1 | 52.94% |
| 1929 | 3 | Harry Caples # (RD 1 -3) | 04/02/1898 | 17/10/1933 | 3 | 1 | 1 | 1 | 33.33% |
| 1929 | 4 | George Boddington (RD 4 - 14) | 29/10/1898 | 02/12/1986 | 13 | 3 | 9 | 1 | 23.08% |
| 1930 - 1931 | 5 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway | 17/07/1885 | 29/01/1961 | 31 | 23 | 8 | 74.19% | |
| 1932 | 6 | Frank Burge | 14/08/1894 | 05/07/1958 | 15 | 9 | 6 | 60.00% | |
| 1933 - 1938 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway | 17/07/1885 | 29/01/1961 | 89 | 64 | 17 | 8 | 71.91% | |
| 1939 | 7 | Ray Stehr # | 24/01/1913 | 02/06/1983 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 57.14% | |
| 1940 | 8 | Dave Brown # | 04/04/1913 | 24/02/1974 | 16 | 11 | 4 | 1 | 68.75% |
| 1941 | Ray Stehr # | 24/01/1913 | 02/06/1983 | 16 | 10 | 6 | 62.50% | ||
| 1942 | 9 | Joe Pearce # | 07/09/1910 | 16/10/1995 | 16 | 9 | 7 | 56.25% | |
| 1943 | Dave Brown | 04/04/1913 | 24/02/1974 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 28.57% | ||
| 1944 | Joe Pearce | 07/09/1910 | 16/10/1995 | 14 | 4 | 10 | 28.57% | ||
| 1945 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway | 17/07/1885 | 02/06/1983 | 16 | 13 | 3 | 81.25% | ||
| 1946 | Ray Stehr # | 24/01/1913 | 02/06/1983 | 14 | 8 | 6 | 57.14% | ||
| 1947 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway | 17/07/1885 | 02/06/1983 | 18 | 5 | 12 | 1 | 27.78% | |
| 1948 | 10 | Percy Williams | 22/08/1910 | 10/07/1996 | 18 | 7 | 9 | 2 | 38.89% |
| 1949 | Ray Stehr | 24/01/1913 | 02/06/1983 | 18 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 16.67% | |
| 1950 - 1952 | 11 | Ernie Norman | 12/10/1912 | 03/08/1993 | 54 | 22 | 32 | 40.74% | |
| 1953 | 12 | Col Donohoe # | 02/08/1929 | 16/06/1986 | 19 | 10 | 8 | 1 | 52.63% |
| 1954 | 13 | Ferris Ashton # | 21/08/1926 | 29/01/2013 | 18 | 3 | 14 | 1 | 16.67% |
| 1955 - 1956 | 14 | Frank O'Connor | 25/11/1906 | 13/08/1964 | 36 | 13 | 21 | 2 | 36.11% |
| 1957 - 1959 | Dave Brown | 04/04/1913 | 24/02/1974 | 54 | 23 | 31 | 42.59% | ||
| 1960 | 15 | Dick Dunn | 10/08/1920 | 11/07/2006 | 23 | 14 | 9 | 60.87% | |
| 1961 | 16 | Terry Fearnley # (RD 1 - 10) | 21/07/1933 | 04/03/2015 | 10 | 6 | 4 | 60.00% | |
| 1961 - 1963 | Dick Dunn (RD 11, 1961 - R18, 1963) | 10/08/1920 | 11/07/2006 | 44 | 15 | 27 | 2 | 34.09% | |
| 1964 | 17 | Nat Silcock # | 25/11/1927 | 27/07/1992 | 18 | 2 | 16 | 11.11% | |
| 1965 - 1966 | 18 | Bert Holcroft | 08/08/1925 | 17/08/2021 | 36 | 3 | 32 | 1 | 8.33% |
| 1967 - 1968 | 19 | Jack Gibson | 27/02/1929 | 09/05/2008 | 46 | 27 | 16 | 3 | 58.70% |
| 1969 | 20 | Loius Neumann # | 25/02/1936 | 12/03/1997 | 22 | 8 | 13 | 1 | 36.36% |
| 1970 - 1972 | 21 | Don Furner | 26/12/1932 | 24/02/2020 | 69 | 40 | 27 | 2 | 57.97% |
| 1973 | 22 | Tony Paskins | 5/12/1927 | 16/08/2019 | 22 | 12 | 10 | 54.55% | |
| 1974 - 1976 | Jack Gibson | 27/02/1929 | 09/05/2008 | 73 | 56 | 16 | 1 | 76.71% | |
| 1977 - 1978 | 23 | Arthur Beetson # | 22/01/1945 | 01/12/2011 | 47 | 29 | 17 | 1 | 61.70% |
| 1979 | 24 | Bob Fulton # | 01/12/1946 | 23/05/2021 | 22 | 9 | 12 | 1 | 40.91% |
| 1980 - 1982 | Bob Fulton | 01/12/1946 | 23/05/2021 | 78 | 48 | 26 | 4 | 61.54% | |
| 1983 - 1984 | 25 | Laurie Freier | 07/12/1948 | 51 | 19 | 30 | 2 | 37.25% | |
| 1985 - 1988 | Arthur Beetosn | 22/01/1945 | 01/12/2011 | 97 | 42 | 48 | 7 | 43.30% | |
| 1989 - 1990 | 26 | Russell Fairfax (RD 1, 1989 - RD 14, 1990) | 29/03/1952 | 36 | 11 | 23 | 2 | 30.56% | |
| 1990 | 27 | Barry 'Bunny' Reilly (RD 15 - 16) | 24/03/1948 | 05/05/2021 | 2 | 1 | 1 | 50.00% | |
| 1990 | 28 | Hugh McGahan # (RD 17 - 22) | 15/11/1961 | 6 | 3 | 3 | 50.00% | ||
| 1991 - 1994 | 29 | Mark Murray (RD 1, 1991 - RD 15, 1994) | 1/05/1959 | 80 | 35 | 42 | 3 | 43.75% | |
| 1994 | Arthur Beetson (RD 15 - 22) | 22/01/1945 | 8 | 3 | 5 | 37.50% | |||
| 1995 - 1999 | 30 | Phil Gould | 24/01/1958 | 124 | 76 | 46 | 2 | 61.29% | |
| 2000 - 2001 | 31 | Graham Murray | 6/01/1955 | 28/07/2013 | 57 | 31 | 25 | 1 | 54.39% |
| 2002 - 2006 | 32 | Ricky Stuart | 7/01/1967 | 130 | 78 | 51 | 1 | 60.00% | |
| 2007 | 33 | Chris Anderson (RD 1 -17) | 28/05/1952 | 16 | 5 | 11 | 31.25% | ||
| 2007 - 2009 | 34 | Brad Fittler (RD 18, 2007 - RD 26, 2009) | 5/02/1972 | 58 | 25 | 32 | 1 | 43.10% | |
| 2010 - 2012 | 35 | Brian Smith | 14/03/1954 | 76 | 35 | 40 | 1 | 46.05% | |
| 2013 - | 36 | Trent Robinson | 15/03/1977 | 336 | 210 | 126 | 62.50% | ||
| # Player/Coach | |||||||||
Multiple First Grade Coaching Stints (Men) |
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| Coach No. |
Name | Club Coaching Years | Stints | Games Coached |
W | L | D | % | Titles |
| 5 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway | 1930 - 1931, 1933 - 1938, 1945, 1947 | 4 | 154 | 105 | 40 | 9 | 68.18% | 4 |
| 7 | Ray Stehr | 1939, 1941, 1946, 1949 | 4 | 62 | 29 | 32 | 1 | 46.77% | |
| 8 | Dave Brown | 1940, 1943, 1957 - 1959 | 3 | 84 | 38 | 45 | 1 | 45.24% | 1 |
| 9 | Joe Pearce | 1942, 1944 | 2 | 30 | 13 | 17 | 43.33% | ||
| 15 | Dick Dunn | 1960, 1961 - 1963 | 2 | 67 | 29 | 36 | 2 | 43.28% | |
| 19 | Jack Gibson | 1967 - 1968, 1974 - 1976 | 2 | 119 | 83 | 32 | 4 | 69.75% | 2 |
| 23 | Arthur Beetson | 1977 - 1978, 1985 - 1988, 1994 | 3 | 152 | 74 | 70 | 8 | 48.68% | |
| 24 | Bob Fulton | 1979, 1980 - 1982 | 2 | 100 | 57 | 38 | 5 | 57.00% | |
Most Games As First Grade Coach (Men) |
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| Name | Coach No. |
Games Coached |
W | L | D | Win % |
Club Coaching Career Span |
Stints | Seasons | Titles |
| Trent Robinson | 36 | 336 | 210 | 126 | 62.50% | 2013 - | 1 | 13 | 3 | |
| Arthur 'Pony' Halloway | 5 | 154 | 105 | 40 | 9 | 68.18% | 1930 - 1947 | 4 | 10 | 4 |
| Arthur Beetson | 23 | 152 | 74 | 70 | 8 | 48.68% | 1977 - 1994 | 3 | 7 | |
| Ricky Stuart | 32 | 130 | 78 | 51 | 1 | 60.00% | 2002 - 2006 | 1 | 5 | 1 |
| Phil Gould | 30 | 124 | 76 | 46 | 2 | 61.29% | 1995 - 1999 | 1 | 5 | |
| Jack Gibson | 19 | 119 | 83 | 32 | 4 | 69.75% | 1967 - 1976 | 2 | 5 | 2 |
| Bob Fulton | 24 | 100 | 57 | 38 | 5 | 57.00% | 1979 - 1982 | 2 | 4 | |
Extended Men's Coaching Staff |
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(NRL Era: 1998 - ) |
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| Season | Head Coach | NRL Assistant Coaches | NSW Cup Coach | Senior Youth Coach | ||
| 1998 | Phil Gould | - | - | - | Arthur Kitinas ^ | Brian Gray * ~ |
| 1999 | Phil Gould | - | - | - | Arthur Kitinas < | Brian Gray * |
| 2000 | Graham Murray | Grant Jones | Arthur Kitinas < | Brian Gray * | ||
| 2001 | Graham Murray | Grant Jones | Arthur Kitinas < | Brian Gray * | ||
| 2002 | Ricky Stuart | John Cartwright | Dean Pay | John Cartwright < | Dean Pay * | |
| 2003 | Ricky Stuart | John Cartwright | Ivan Cleary | Ivan Cleary > | Brian Gray * ~ | |
| 2004 | Ricky Stuart | John Cartwright | Ivan Cleary | Ivan Cleary > | Shane Flanagan * | |
| 2005 | Ricky Stuart | John Cartwright | Shane Flanagan | Shane Flanagan > | Jim Dymock * | |
| 2006 | Ricky Stuart | Jim Dymock | Shane Flanagan | Paul Young (NT) > | Jim Dymock * | |
| 2007 | Chris Anderson Brad Fittler |
Brad Fittler Paul Young |
James Pickering | Paul Young (NT) > | James Pickering * | |
| 2008 | Brad Fittler | Paul Young | Adrian Lam | Greg Matterson (NT) | Adrian Lam # Scott Murray # |
|
| 2009 | Brad Fittler | Paul Young | Adrian Lam | Greg Matterson (NT) | Scott Murray # | |
| 2010 | Brian Smith | Trent Robinson | Rohan Smith | Greg Matterson (NT) | Scott Murray # | |
| 2011 | Brian Smith | Brandon Costin / | Rohan Smith | Greg Matterson (NT) | Jason Taylor # | |
| 2012 | Brian Smith | Craig Fitzgibbon | Rohan Smith | Matthew Elliott | Greg Matterson (NT) | Jason Taylor # |
| 2013 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Jason Taylor | Paul Green | Greg Matterson (NT) | Paul Green # |
| 2014 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Jason Taylor | Steve McNamara | Greg Matterson (NT) | Adam Hartigan # |
| 2015 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Justin Holbrook | Steve McNamara | Robert 'Rip' Taylor (WY) | Adam Hartigan # |
| 2016 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Justin Holbrook | Steve McNamara | Robert 'Rip' Taylor (WY) | Anthony Barnes # |
| 2017 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Justin Holbrook Jason Taylor |
Matt King | Robert 'Rip' Taylor (WY) | Anthony Barnes # |
| 2018 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Jason Taylor | Matt King | Robert 'Rip' Taylor (WY) | Anthony Barnes * |
| 2019 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Adam O'Brien | Matt King | Jason Taylor (NS) | Anthony Barnes * |
| 2020 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Nathan Cayless | Matt King | Jason Taylor (NS) | Anthony Barnes * |
| 2021 | Trent Robinson | Craig Fitzgibbon | Nathan Cayless | Matt King | Jason Taylor (NS) | Anthony Barnes * |
| 2022 | Trent Robinson | Jason Ryles | Brett Morris | Matt King | Jason Taylor (NS) | Anthony Barnes * |
| 2023 | Trent Robinson | Jason Ryles Boyd Cordner & Jake Friend |
Brett Morris | Matt King | Jason Taylor (NS) & Anthony Barnes (SR) |
Dean Feeney * |
| 2024 | Trent Robinson | Boyd Cordner | Justin Holbrook | Matt King | Brett Morris | David Swann * |
| 2025 | Trent Robinson | Hayden Knowles | Justin Holbrook | Matt King | Brett Morris | Dean Feeney * |
| / (né Pearson) ^ President's Cup < First Division > Premier League NT - Newtown, WY - Wyong, NS - North Sydney, SR - Sydney Roosters * Jersey Flegg Cup # National Youth Competition ~ Jersey Flegg competition run as a junior representative (Under 19s) competition |
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Premiership Winning Coaches |
|
| Season | Coach |
| 1911 | - |
| 1912 | - |
| 1913 | - |
| 1923 | Ray Norman |
| 1935 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway |
| 1936 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway |
| 1937 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway |
| 1940 | Dave Brown # |
| 1945 | Arthur 'Pony' Halloway |
| 1974 | Jack Gibson |
| 1975 | Jack Gibson |
| 2002 | Ricky Stuart |
| 2013 | Trent Robinson |
| 2018 | Trent Robinson |
| 2019 | Trent Robinson |
| # Captain/Coach | |
Multiple Premiership Winning Coaches |
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| Coach | Titles As Coach |
Premiership Seasons | ||||||||||
| Arthur 'Pony' Halloway | 4 | 1935 | 1936 | 1937 | 1945 | |||||||
| Trent Robinson | 3 | 2013 | 2018 | 2019 | ||||||||
| Jack Gibson | 2 | 1974 | 1975 | |||||||||
Sydney Roosters respect and honour the Traditional Custodians of the land and pay our respects to their Elders past, present and future. We acknowledge the stories, traditions and living cultures of Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander peoples on the lands we meet, gather and play on.
