sport news Footy legend Laurie Daley says NRL will have its first female head coach within ... trends now
Rugby league has been seen as only a man's game for many, many years - but no longer, according to footy legend Laurie Daley.
The 53-year-old NSW, Kangaroos and Raiders great has firmly believes women are ready to makes waves in the NRL's top coaching roles.
It comes as the NRLW gets ready for its sixth season amidst a stunning rise in popularity, culminating in more than 42,000 people watching Millie Boyle's Newcastle Knights defeat Parramatta in this year's grand final.
Daley has been a very vocal supporter of not only the NRLW since its inception, but of more girls and women playing and being involved with the game. He insists it's 'inevitable' there will be a female coach at the top level in male footy very soon.
Footy legend Laurie Daley believes the NRL will, at some point in the next five to 10 years, see females flourish coaching at the highest level for males
'I think in the next five years we might start to see women as assistant coaches and then in ten years we might see our first-ever NRL female head coach. There are opportunities there now that weren't there years ago,' he told News Corp.
'I think it's inevitable that it will happen, a woman being a head coach or an assistant coach. That's the way we're tracking.'
Daley's comments are not part of a PR exercise driven by the governing body.
His message is about females who have the same coaching and mentoring credentials of their male counterparts - of which there are many - being empowered to apply for and receive coaching roles they will excel in.
Kylie Hilder (centre) and Ruan Sims (right), who were part of the victorious NSW coaching panel in this year's State of Origin series, could succeed mentoring either gender
Two of the highest-profile examples are former NRLW, Blues and Australian stars Ruan Sims and Kylie Hilder, who both seem perfectly poised to shatter the glass ceiling in rugby league.
Sims, who is probably just as well known these days as her NRL star brothers Tariq, Ashton and Korbin, knows the men's game intimately through her family and high-profile broadcasting role.
Ruan Sims OAM is one of the game's most recognisable figures, and has already had significant success in coaching roles, despite having to cram in with extensive broadcasting commitments
So well versed is she in the playing, coaching and commentary roles she's held in both the men's and women's game, she received an OAM last year for her services to rugby league.
Hilder has more actual coaching pedigree, having guided the Blues to a State of Origin victory this season.
The man who succeeded Daley as NSW coach, Brad Fittler, brought Hilder into the Blues coaching box and continues to mentor her.
