Neil Henry
Encyclopedia
Neil Henry is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. Since 2009 he has been head coach for the North Queensland Cowboys
of the National Rugby League
. Henry previously played for, then coached the Canberra Raiders
.
Henry was a foundation player of the Raiders, having played for the club from 1982 and 1984 in the lower grades. After a succession of player-coach positions at local clubs in the Canberra
competition, he was made coach of the Western Reds' Under 19 team in 1997, before coaching Raiders lower-grade teams between 1999 and 2002.
He was previously the assistant coach of the North Queensland Cowboys
between 2002 and 2006, and assistant to Mal Meninga
in the Queensland State of Origin team. Henry was assistant from 2006-2009 and was regarded as the main man to turn Queensland back into a winning team.
Neil Henry incurred a fine of $10,000 for the Raiders by questioning the impartiality of the referee following a round 19 loss to Melbourne Storm
in 2007.
Henry was named Dally M
Coach of the Year for 2008, ahead of other nominees Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart
and Des Hasler
.
Henry was rewarded Dally M coach of the year for achieving the impossible. Raiders were tipped to finsh last in 2008 but Neil Henry got the team of then unknowns into the top 6 and into the finals.
In October, 2008, Henry returned to Townsville, Queensland
to take over from Ian Millward
as head coach of the North Queensland Cowboys
. He got the job instead of Wayne Bennet.
He was also coach of the Indigenous All Stars. And Dream Time coach. In 2010 Neil Henry was assistant of the PM XIII team that played PNG. In 2010 Henry was in danger of lossing his job as the cowboys won only 5 games. In 2011 Neil Henry was able to turn it around and won 14 of 24 games and the Cowboys madeit to the finals for the first time in 3 seasons.
Neil Henry was a finalist for Dally M coach of the year in 2011.
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
of the National Rugby League
National Rugby League
The National Rugby League is the top league of professional rugby league football clubs in Australasia. The NRL's main competition, called the Telstra Premiership , is contested by sixteen teams, fifteen of which are based in Australia with one based in New Zealand...
. Henry previously played for, then coached the Canberra Raiders
Canberra Raiders
The Canberra Raiders are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in the national capital city of Canberra, Australian Capital Territory. They have competed in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership since 1982...
.
Henry was a foundation player of the Raiders, having played for the club from 1982 and 1984 in the lower grades. After a succession of player-coach positions at local clubs in the Canberra
Canberra
Canberra is the capital city of Australia. With a population of over 345,000, it is Australia's largest inland city and the eighth-largest city overall. The city is located at the northern end of the Australian Capital Territory , south-west of Sydney, and north-east of Melbourne...
competition, he was made coach of the Western Reds' Under 19 team in 1997, before coaching Raiders lower-grade teams between 1999 and 2002.
He was previously the assistant coach of the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
between 2002 and 2006, and assistant to Mal Meninga
Mal Meninga
Malcolm Norman Meninga AM is an Australian former rugby league test captain and current coach of Queensland's State of Origin team. As a player he was a legendary goal-kicking centre, counted amongst the finest footballers of the 20th century...
in the Queensland State of Origin team. Henry was assistant from 2006-2009 and was regarded as the main man to turn Queensland back into a winning team.
Neil Henry incurred a fine of $10,000 for the Raiders by questioning the impartiality of the referee following a round 19 loss to Melbourne Storm
Melbourne Storm
The Melbourne Storm are an Australian professional rugby league club based in the city of Melbourne. They are the first fully professional rugby league team based in the Australian rules football-dominated state of Victoria....
in 2007.
Henry was named Dally M
Dally M Medal
The Dally M Medal is the premier individual award in the Australian rugby league competition, which is given to the player voted by sports commentators as the best and fairest in the competition for that year....
Coach of the Year for 2008, ahead of other nominees Craig Bellamy, Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart
Ricky Stuart is an Australian rugby league football coach and former player of the 1980s and 90s. He is currently the head coach of the New South Wales State of Origin team, having replaced Craig Bellamy following a fifth consecutive failure in the 2010 series...
and Des Hasler
Des Hasler
Des Hasler is an Australian former professional rugby league player and current head coach of the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs. He played in 309 matches in a first-grade career spanning 16 seasons. Most of his career was spent with the Manly-Warringah Sea Eagles, with whom he won two premierships...
.
Henry was rewarded Dally M coach of the year for achieving the impossible. Raiders were tipped to finsh last in 2008 but Neil Henry got the team of then unknowns into the top 6 and into the finals.
In October, 2008, Henry returned to Townsville, Queensland
Townsville, Queensland
Townsville is a city on the north-eastern coast of Australia, in the state of Queensland. Adjacent to the central section of the Great Barrier Reef, it is in the dry tropics region of Queensland. Townsville is Australia's largest urban centre north of the Sunshine Coast, with a 2006 census...
to take over from Ian Millward
Ian Millward
Ian Millward is an Australian rugby league coach and former player. Millward is currently the head coach at Super League side Castleford....
as head coach of the North Queensland Cowboys
North Queensland Cowboys
The North Queensland Cowboys are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Townsville, Queensland. They compete in Australasia's elite rugby league competition, the National Rugby League premiership...
. He got the job instead of Wayne Bennet.
He was also coach of the Indigenous All Stars. And Dream Time coach. In 2010 Neil Henry was assistant of the PM XIII team that played PNG. In 2010 Henry was in danger of lossing his job as the cowboys won only 5 games. In 2011 Neil Henry was able to turn it around and won 14 of 24 games and the Cowboys madeit to the finals for the first time in 3 seasons.
Neil Henry was a finalist for Dally M coach of the year in 2011.