• Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Rugby League World Cup

Rugby League World Cup

Norths Devils name co-coaches for remainder of 2022 season

May 6, 2022 by Leave a Comment

Kevin Neighbour and Ben King have been appointed as Norths Devils co-coaches for the remainder of the Hostplus Cup season.

The pair have been Rohan Smith’s assistant coaches at the Devils for the past two seasons, continuing a combined coaching career across all levels of football of more than three decades.

Neighbour and King were enjoying this year’s role as assistants, but Smith’s recruitment to Leeds Rhinos opened the door for their elevation to a position that has belonged to the likes of Bob Bax, Clive Churchill, Graham Lowe and Mark Murray.

They will guide the Devils to their next clash with the PNG Hunters in Toowoomba on May 7 and then beyond.

“We couldn’t think of a better appointment than Kev and BK, who will be excellent replacements for Rohan,” Devils CEO Troy Rovelli said.

“They know our players and our Devils style of football. They have tremendous experience in coaching and they have well and truly earned this appointment.

“We’re pleased that they have agreed to take over this role and we look forward to watching them follow on from Rohan.”

Neighbour and King’s long apprenticeships crossed paths in 2019 when they coached against each other. Neighbour was guiding the Devils Colts team against King’s Easts Tigers Colts.

They have been by each other’s sides since November 2020 when they became Smith’s assistants for a season that ended with a stirring grand final victory for the Devils.

That broke a drought for King – he had been an assistant coach at the Sunshine Coast Falcons and Easts Tigers across six seasons, reaching three grand finals without tasting success.

King, who lives on the Gold Coast with wife Andrea and their two sons, also has another coaching role with the Mudgeeraba Redbacks under 8 team including his son.

“It’s a privilege to join Kev in coaching a club with the history of the Devils,” King said.

“I’ve been coaching at different levels for 22 years so I’ve learned a lot in that time and continue to learn.

“We’ve got a great playing group here who play for each other. I know Kev will give this job everything he has and I know I will give it absolutely everything I’ve got and we’re fortunate to have a great coaching staff around us.”

Neighbour played in the second-tier competition in his native United Kingdom before beginning a coaching career that had stops in New Zealand, Coffs Harbour, Tweed Heads and then Norths Devils.

In 2018, Neighbour was the coach of Norths’ Colts premiership team that included the likes of future NRL players Jordan Riki, Kobe Hetherington, Ethan Bullemor and Cory Paix. He coached the Colts again in 2019 before moving into the assistant role with Smith in 2020.

Neighbour’s Australian partner Kelly Nelson has been alongside him through most of a coaching journey that has been rewarded with the new appointment.

“I grew up overseas but I’ve never felt so at home in another place than I have at the Devils coaching with Rohan, BK and others,” Neighbour said.

“In terms of this team, we’re not going to change anything. We’re going to keep pushing forwards and playing that Devils style of football that our supporters have become used to in recent years.”

The Devils had the bye last weekend. This weekend, they will clash with the Hunters, which will be followed by home games against Central Queensland Capras on May 14 and Brisbane Tigers on May 22.

The post Norths Devils name co-coaches for remainder of 2022 season appeared first on Asia Pacific Rugby League.

Filed Under: Rugby League World Cup

Reader Interactions

Leave a Reply Cancel reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Primary Sidebar

RLWC 2022

  • Who we are
  • Comments
  • Media
  • Cookies
  • Embedded content from other websites
  • Who we share your data with
  • How long we retain your data
  • What rights you have over your data
  • Where we send your data

Townsville claim the XXXX League Championship

A slick and ruthless Townsville have stunned the Gold Coast to claim this year’s XXXX League Championship. After winning the 2022 Foley Shield, Townsville can now add another trophy to the cabinet, after they scored seven tries to one in the 32-6 victory on Saturday, on their home turf at Neil Stewart Oval. Player of […]

World Cup to be shown live and exclusive on Fox Sports, Kayo in Australia

All 61 matches of this year’s Rugby League World Cup will be shown live and exclusive on Fox Sports and Kayo It comes after Foxtel Group announced on Thursday it had secured the broadcast rights to the upcoming tournament. The World Cup kicks off on October 15 in England and will finish up on November […]

Semi Finalists decided for Fox Memorial Premiership

The Semi Finalists for the 2022 Auckland Fox Memorial Premiership have been decided following Saturday’s Quarter Finals. FOX MEMORIAL PREMIERSHIP Glenora 26 – 12 Te Atatu An absolutely thrilling day of finals footy at Harold Moody Park, starting with the Premier Reserve match between the Bears and the Roosters. Te Atatu snuck past the home […]

blank

Queensland go back-to-back in Wheelchair State of Origin

Queensland claimed back-to-back State of Origin shields for the first time in their history with a dominant 49-24 win over New South Wales in Townsville on Saturday. The Construction Sciences Maroons scored eight tries to four to defy an 11-7 penalty count against them and claim the 2022 Bravery Trust title. Their superior ball-handling skills […]

blank

Inaugural Australian Schoolgirls team announced

The first ever Australian Schoolgirls side has been selected following the curtain-raiser fixture between a combined NSW and ACT team against Queensland prior to Origin III at Suncorp Stadium. The clash, which was won 30-6 by the Maroons in the lead-up to Game Three, was the final selection trial for the inaugural Australian Schoolgirls side, […]

blank

PNG Digicel Cup resumes this weekend

The Papua New Guinea National Rugby League Competition (PNGNRLC), the Digicel Cup competition, has had a two-week recess after Round 11 due to the polling period of the 2022 National General Elections. Round 12 of the semi-professional rugby league competition will resume this weekend on 23rd and 24th July 2022. On Saturday July 23rd, Round […]

blank

PNG Hunters confirm homecoming

The PNG Hunters are delighted to announce an emotional homecoming to Papua New Guinea on August 10 with their final three games of the 2022 Hostplus Cup season to be played at the National Football Stadium in Port Moresby. The Hunters’ return to PNG next month is made possible thanks to the Australian Government’s PacificAus […]

blank

QRL launches Future Maroons Academy to drive development

The Queensland Rugby League has today outlined its commitment to a new program that is designed to become a leader in the women’s sport talent development. In another coup for female rugby league across the state, the QRL will facilitate a Future Maroons Academy led by Harvey Norman Queensland Maroons head coach Tahnee Norris. Norris, […]

Copyright@2021 Rugby League World Cup

Go to mobile version