As coaching journeys go, Ron Griffiths has had the mother of them all this year.
It started with guiding the Indigenous All Stars against the Māori All Stars in Sydney in February before he leapt into his work as the man tasked with steering the One New Zealand Warriors back into the NRLW after a five-year absence.
But there was no time to put the feet up when that campaign finished last month.
He has been fully immersed in one of the most exceptional signing sprees in the One New Zealand Warriors’ history – NRL or NRLW – confirming the acquisition of three of the Brisbane Broncos’ premiership-winning stars in Gayle Broughton, Mele Hufanga and Annetta Nuuausala for 2026 and beyond. All were announced in the space of six days.
At the same time Griffiths was still on the coaching treadmill taking charge of his beloved Newcastle Yowies at the annual Koori Knockout, one of the biggest indigenous gatherings in Australia which brings together Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander rugby league teams from across New South Wales.
Held at the Riverside Sporting Complex in Tamworth last week, this year’s event attracted more than 170 teams and 4000 players competing across various grades.
Griffiths’ side included Papua New Guinea and former North Queensland half Kyle Laybutt, Laybutt kicking a late field goal in a thrill-packed men's grand final to give the Yowies a 25-24 win over the Bourke Warriors, who had former Newcastle and Penrith halfback Luke Walsh in their side.
Next moment he was in the air to Port Moresby to work for Kevin Walters as assistant coach of the Australian Prime Minister's XIII for Sunday's annual clash against the Papua New Guinea Kumuls.
That segued into his fifth coaching assignment of the year as head coach of the Cook Islands women’s Pacific Bowl team in the Pacific Championships starting in Port Moresby next weekend.
He has four Warriors players in the squad – players’ player of the year Kaiyah Atai, props Lavinia Kitai and Ashlee Matapo and halfback Lydia Turua-Quedley.
