Norths Devils have announced changes to the club’s coaching ranks for next season with 2021 premiership coach Rohan Smith returning to Bishop Park.
Smith will become the Devils’ head coach from 1 November, returning to the club he led from 2018 to 2022 when he set the foundation for an era that has included three Queensland Cup premierships in four years.
Smith left the Devils to become head coach at Leeds Rhinos, leading them to the Super League grand final in 2022 before he left the Rhinos earlier this year.
He will be rejoined at the Devils by his 2021 assistant coach Kevin Neighbour, who became acting head coach with Ben King in 2022 when Smith went to the UK. Neighbour and King guided the Devils for the rest of the year to back-to-back premierships.
Neighbour will coach the Devils’ Under 19 Mal Meninga Cup squad. This will be part of his wider role with the NRL Dolphins under the strong affiliate relationship between the Devils and Dolphins.
The Devils have farewelled 2024 coach Dave Elliott, who leaves the club after steering Norths to the Hostplus Cup premiership and NRL State Championship this season.
“We are extremely grateful to Dave for his two years at our club and for his work during a memorable 2024 that featured our third premiership in four seasons,” Devils CEO Troy Rovelli said.
“Rohan Smith returns to our club as we build on the benchmarks set within this club over recent years.
“Rohan is simply an outstanding coach who understands our club and specialises in identifying and developing talent. He oversaw a squad in 2021 without any NRL-contracted players that went on to win the premiership and lost just two matches during the season.
“We have been fortunate to watch 15 of our players go from Devils contracts to fulltime contracts in the last four years and the culture created by Rohan has played a significant role in that.
“We look forward to seeing Rohan and Kevin Neighbour and their families back at our club.”
Smith said he was delighted to return to the Devils with the experience of his time in the UK.
“I very much enjoyed my five seasons at Norths which produced many friendships and very positive memories for me and my family,” Smith said.
“We’re very much looking forward to coming back to a club that has such a strong history and plays such an important role in its community.
“The future of the Devils continues to be positive and we look forward to the next steps.”
Norths chairman Michael Crutcher said the Hostplus Cup premiership, NRL State Championship triumph and the women’s BMD Premiership grand final appearance were highlights in another successful season for the Devils on and off the field.
“We thank our sponsors and supporters for their great enthusiasm for our club and for their commitment to return for the 2024 season,” Crutcher said.
“Our women’s program is growing and our leagues club is a hub for our community, providing support for a football operation that includes our six teams and our nine junior affiliate clubs.”
