It would be understandable if a few eyebrows were raised and a few google searches conducted when reports came out from Australia claiming Simon Woolford was set to be the next head coach of Huddersfield.
With Neil Henry been largely linked with the post ever since Rick Stone departed, Woolford’s name came as quite the surprise to many.
But who is the alleged next coach of the Giants?
Woolford is perhaps best known for his playing days, having enjoyed an impressive 15-year career in Australia playing as a hooker.
Debuting for Canberra Raiders in 1994, he made over 230 appearances for the Green Machine and captained the side for a number of years.
He eventually left the Raiders at the end of the 2006 season to link up with St George Illawarra, where he spent two seasons before hanging up the boots.
Woolford, now 43, eventually moved into coaching. In 2012, he was appointed as the head coach of the Queanbeyan Blues, who play in the Canberra Rugby League competition.
He enjoyed great success, with the Blues finishing runners-up in his first season in charge before winning the Premiership in 2014 and 2015.
He is currently in his second season coaching the Newcastle Knights’ NSW Cup team, although they are bottom of the table after six rounds. Last year, they finished in the play-offs.
Woolford currently works alongside the Knights’ head coach Nathan Brown, who coached the Giants between 2009 and 2012.
Brown is believed to still be close to Huddersfield’s Managing Director Richard Thewlis, and will have inevitably played a part in Woolford’s imminent appointment.
Woolford has made no secret of his interest in the job, confirming he has been interviewed for the role.
“I’ve been interviewed so now I just have to wait and see what happens,” he told the Newcastle Herald on Tuesday.
“It would obviously be a really good step-up for me.
“But you don’t go into coaching without aspirations to be a head coach at some stage and I’m no different from anybody else in that regard.
“I’m passionate about coaching and love it here in Newcastle with the Knights. But this would be a great opportunity if I was to get the nod.”
