• Matty Smith to become Wigan Academy Head Coach.
• Smith joins for 2025 on a four-year deal.
• Smith: “I’m looking forward to working with all the coaches from across the Club and improving and developing myself as a coach also and I can’t wait to get started.”

Matty Smith will be the Academy Head Coach starting in 2025, the Wigan Warriors are happy to announce.

Smith will return to the Warriors, where he played halfback in 139 games from 2012 to 2016, helping them win a Challenge Cup and two Super League Grand Finals. During his tenure at Wigan, he also made the Dream Team twice and took home the Lance Todd Trophy in 2013.

He played for the Catalans Dragons, Warrington Wolves (loan), and Widnes Vikings after leaving Wigan and returning to his local team, St Helens.

After taking over the St. Helens Women’s squad in December 2022, the 37-year-old guided them to three straight Challenge Cup victories and a second-place league finish. He served as a first team assistant with Paul Wellens throughout the 2023 campaign.

“Matty has always had a tremendous, forward-thinking rugby league brain,” stated Kris Radlinski, the chief executive of the Wigan Warriors. As a player, he made good use of it, and more recently, his coaching teams have demonstrated this. He wants to advance the coaching of the top young guys after doing a fantastic job with the St. Helens Women’s squad.

When Matt Peet and I met him, his enthusiasm for coaching was evident. He will be a fantastic addition to our club’s performance team, in my opinion.

“Matty was actively involved in coaching our juniors while he was playing here, and his passion for coaching is evident,” stated head coach Matt Peet. We can’t wait for him to rejoin the Club.

“He has led his teams in recent seasons in a very outstanding manner. Our academy athletes will be well-cared for.

“I’ve had two amazing years with St Helens women’s, and I’ve really enjoyed that experience and we’ve been a very successful group,” stated Matty Smith.

“I couldn’t pass up this opportunity; I see it as a huge and significant role that will enable me to work with and develop the young, talented people this Club has always produced.”

“I can’t wait to get started and look forward to working with all the coaches from across the Club as well as growing and developing as a coach.”

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