The mighty Western Suburbs Magpies are back.
Next season the black and whites will be playing in the Intrust Super Premiership (ISP), the second tier of rugby league after the NRL.
And they will be coached by one of their greatest old boys, Brett Hodgson, who also won a premiership with the Wests Tigers in 2005.
“Hodgo’’ is returning to Australia as the 2018 NRL assistant coach to Ivan Cleary and head coach of the ISP team.
“I am absolutely thrilled to come back home to where I started playing,” Hodgson said.
“It’s a great opportunity to come back to a club that is clearly on the improve both on and off the field.
“I’m looking forward to developing as a coach and working under Ivan.”
Western Suburbs Magpies will play several 2018 ISP home games at Campbelltown Sports Stadium, which will also include Wests Tigers NRL game days.
The Magpies have been based in the Macarthur region since 1987, moving there from Lidcombe.
In 2000 they formed a joint venture with the Balmain Tigers in a bid to continue playing in the NRL, the top tier of rugby league in Australia.
Having the Magpies playing in Intrust Super Premiership in 2018 is part of the Wests Tigers Macarthur region strategy, according to a statement issued by the club today.
“The decision is designed to strengthen the club’s position and continue to cultivate a robust pathways system in the Macarthur region,’’ the Wests Tigers statement said.
“The Macarthur region boasts one of the richest pools of rugby league talent in the world.
“Wests Tigers prides itself on fostering young players from junior league through to the NRL.
“This pathway progresses through development squads, Harold Matthews and SG Ball teams, under 20s, Ron Massey Cup and Intrust Super Premiership.’’
