A Wests Tigers Grand Final reunion is apparently in the works, with the club reportedly signing a new assistant coach and head coach of their NSW Cup team.
The arrival of a new assistant and NSW Cup coach comes after the departure of former NSW Cup coach Wayne Lambkin in September of this year.
Lambkin, one of rugby league’s most experienced coaches, joined the Wests Tigers in 2019, taking over as Jersey Flegg coach before transferring to the reserve-grade side in 2022.
His arrival at the Tigers follows a successful two-decade coaching career at Westfield Sports High School, where he was the head coach of the North Sydney Bears NSW Cup club from 2006 to 2015 and helped led the Manly Sea Eagles to the U20s title in 2017.
To fill his shoes, the Wests Tigers have reportedly hired Aaron Payne as head coach of their NSW Cup team, the Western Suburbs Magpies, and will report to Benji Marshall as an assistant coach at the club, according to News Corp.
The Dallas Cowboys legend, who participated in 219 games for the club, primarily as a hooker between 2002 and 2012, was let go earlier this year.
Payne took over as head coach of the Townsville Blackhawks when Kristian Woolf left for St Helens RLFC in 2018, and he lasted five seasons before being fired earlier this year.
Payne will join colleagues 2005 Grand Finalists Benji Marshall (head coach), Robbie Farah (assistant coach), and Chris Heighington (assistant coach) at the Tigers.
John Morris, a former South Sydney Rabbitohs assistant coach, will also join the coaching team for next season.
