Premiership-winning Byron Bay coach takes NRLW job

ST GEORGE Illawarra Dragons have appointed former Byron Bay and Tweed Heads rugby league coach Nathan Cross as head coach of their NRLW team for the 2024 season.

He will oversee the coaching pathways across the men’s and women’s programs within the club.

Cross said he felt privileged and proud of the appointment, where he hopes to make an “impact.”

The 45-year-old takes on the role having spent the past two seasons as assistant coach of the Queensland women’s State of Origin team.

“The appointment of Nathan Cross as NRLW Head Coach is extremely exciting,” Dragons CEO Ryan Webb said.

“His commitment to excellence and player development aligns perfectly with our club’s values and goals.”

Cross grew up on the Northern Rivers and finished High School at Trinity Catholic College, Lismore in 1997.

He went on to play rugby league for Byron Bay and coached the side to its last first grade premiership in 2008.

He rejoined the club for another stint at coaching until the end of 2018, before linking up with the Tweed Seagulls.

Coaching an NRLW team will put him among the top mentors in the game.

“His aspirations for the team and club align perfectly with what we are working towards for this club,” Dragons’ female football manager Samantha Bremner said.

“His philosophies around women’s rugby league instils a lot of confidence that he will not only help the team perform at the highest level, both individually and as a team, but also give them a great experience at the club whilst doing so.”

He was an assistant coach of the under-19s Queensland men’s Origin team in 2023.

Cross also held assistant coach roles for multiple Queensland Cup sides and was previously a pathways coach for the Titans before a pathways and performance role with Queensland Rugby League.

He takes over at St George from former Dragons and NSW State of Origin representative Jamie Soward who was the inaugural coach of the women’s team when they came into the competition in 2021.