NRL 2022: Former head coach Andrew McFadden returns to NZ Warriors as new recruitment manager

  • 02/08/2022

Former NZ Warriors head coach Andrew McFadden is on his way back to Auckland, after taking up a new role as the club's general manager of recruitment, development, and pathways.

McFadden - or 'Cappy' as he's widely referred to - spent six seasons with the Warriors from 2013 to 2018, including two as head coach, before moving into an assistant role under Stephen Kearney and eventually returning to Canberra Raiders.

The 44-year-old will take over from Craig Hodges, who became head of recruitment when Peter O'Sullivan joined Redcliffe Dolphins at the end of last year. Hodges will leave the club to pursue a coaching position.

McFadden will reunite with incoming head coach Andrew Webster, after Webster had served as McFadden's assistant back in 2016.

"Bringing 'Cappy' and his family back to the Warriors is so exciting for us," said Warriors chief executive Cam George.

"He has a great affinity with the club and with New Zealand. He's driven now to step away from coaching at NRL level and step into the critical area of recruitment, development and pathways.

"We've invested heavily in development and pathways while being based in Australia for the last three years, and we have even bigger plans in this space with our full football operation coming back to New Zealand from next season."

George said part of McFadden's new role will be identifying and mentoring young coaches in the Warriors system.

McFadden has spent the last four seasons with head coach Ricky Stuart at Canberra, a period which has seen the Raiders reach the NRL grand final in 2019 and the preliminary final in 2020.

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