Tony Smith has signed a new deal at Warrington that will see him remain the club’s head of coaching and rugby until the end of the 2018 season.
Smith is Super League’s longest serving coach having been at Warrington for seven years since joining the club back in 2009. In that period, he has amassed three Challenge Cup triumphs, won the League Leaders Shield and guided the Wolves to two Grand Final appearances.
“I’m delighted and excited about the upcoming two years,” said Smith. I think we have been a good fit for each other as coach and club, and it’s the ambition of this club that has kept me here. I think we have come through a period of rebuild over the last couple of years and we’ve got some terrific young players with experience now. I think some of our best times are to come and hopefully some of that will be this year; certainly into the next couple and beyond. I’m excited to be part of it.
“I think we have been a good fit for each other as coach and club, and it’s the ambition of this club that has kept me here. I think we have come through a period of rebuild over the last couple of years and we’ve got some terrific young players with experience now. I think some of our best times are to come and hopefully some of that will be this year; certainly into the next couple and beyond. I’m excited to be part of it.
“We are making some really big inroads off the field as well as on it now too. We are engaging with our fans and I think that’s a real positive and makes us a much stronger club. I am enjoying being part of watching this grow and it’s important for us to keep developing. We’ve been ambitious for a long time but are now getting our act together in many respects so it’s a good place to be.”
Warrington Wolves chief executive Roger Draper, who has also extended his stay with the club, said: “We are delighted that Tony has renewed his contract for a further two years. He is a man of principle, who lives and breathes Warrington Wolves. He has established Warrington Wolves for its exciting playing style, continues his commitment to young players and has the ability to bring top-class players to the club.”
