Dave Elliott has brought a former Hostplus Cup head coach and a former State of Origin forward into his coaching team as Norths Devils settle on their staff for their 90th anniversary season.
Elliott, in his first season as Devils head coach, has appointed Sam Mawhinney and David Stagg as his assistants for the Hostplus Cup season.
Stagg’s appointment, which follows his role as an assistant with the Devils Colts squad last year, is among several promotions in the Devils’ coaching ranks.
Shayne Boyd moves into the Hastings Deering Colts coaching role after steering the Mal Meninga Cup Under 18s into last year’s finals.
Former NRL and Devils forward Rob Tanielu replaces Boyd with the Under 18s, moving up from his role with the Cyril Connell Challenge Under 16s last season.
The Devils have two coaches new to the club: Shannon Tupara will guide the Cyril Connell Challenge team while Jake Rowden will coach the Harvey Norman girls’ Under 19 team.
The Devils have already welcomed Zac Wallwork into the coaching role for the club’s inaugural BMD Premiership women’s team along with assistants including Jillaroo and multiple NRLW premiership winner Meg Ward.
That means that each of the Devils’ six teams has a new head coach under the leadership of CEO Troy Rovelli and Elliott but the new faces are complemented by those with significant experience within the club.
“We’re rapt with the group that has come together for this season especially in the way that the likes of Shayne Boyd, Rob Tanielu and David Stagg have moved through the system,” Elliott said.
“Shayne and Rob have a detailed knowledge of the club’s younger ranks and then we have David Stagg moving into the Cup squad this year after his work as an assistant with the Colts last year.
“Zac Wallwork and Jake Rowden have done very well getting our women’s teams ready and they have brought together and excellent coaching team with the likes of Meg Ward.
“And we have some new faces and some well-known staff in our strength and conditioning and medical teams who support our players so well.
“We’re only two weeks away from the first trial matches for some of our teams and we look forward to the season ahead.”
Stagg played more than 200 NRL matches and represented Queensland in the State of Origin. He won a premiership with the Broncos in 2006.
Mawhinney coached the Sunshine Coast Falcons in 2020 and 2021. He rekindles a long association with Elliott in his first year as Devils head coach since moving from Mackay Cutters.
“We played footy together and we studied to be teachers at the same time,” Elliott said.
“I’ve stayed in touch with Sam and he’s been very generous in his help to me over the years. He’s a great asset for our club.”
Norths Devils 2023 coaching staff
Hostplus Cup
Head coach: Dave Elliott
Assistant coaches: Sam Mawhinney, David Stagg
BMD Premiership
Coach: Zac Wallwork
Assistant coaches: Meg Ward, Karl Harding, Ricky Gailer
Manager: Jess Roddick
Hastings Deering Colts
Coach: Shayne Boyd
Assistants: Tristan Thompson, Jamie Floss
Manager: Siniva Chambers
Harvey Norman U19
Coach: Jake Rowden
Assistant: Leon Savelio
Mal Meninga Cup U18
Coach: Rob Tanielu
Assistants: Bill Senior, Dallas Williams, Tony Twigg
Manager: Andrew ‘Wal’ Wallace
Cyril Connell Challenge U16
Coach: Shannon Tupara
Assistants: Jack Noble, Eden Taylor
S&C and Medical
Grant Cole
Megan Kelly
Kurt Crebbin
Alice Hill
Corey Rees
Anj Howlett
Emily Hall
Kiara Bowell
Dan Phillips
Clayton Bohan
Chelsea Lambert
Matt Mutton
Rohan Giritharan
Ash Besse
Jessie Cheadle
Brock McLean
