Royce Simmons
Encyclopedia
Royce Simmons is an Australian professional rugby league
football coach and former player, currently the head coach of St Helens RLFC in the European Super League
. A former test hooker, New South Wales
representative and long-serving Penrith Panthers
player in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
, he later became coach of the club after his retirement.
and Souths
, Simmons was eventually given a contract in 1980 with Penrith. Simmons played much of his first year at lock but was moved to hooker late in the 1981 season.
Simmons was first selected to represent New South Wales as a hooker for games II and III of the 1984 State of Origin series, replacing Rex Wright
who had been chosen for game I.
A successful 1986 series
against Queensland, including a Man of the Match in game I, secured Simmons a place as the first Penrith player to represent Australia. He made his debut against New Zealand
in July 1986 and played in ten international games over the next year. Simmons' final test appearance came in Australia at Lang Park
against New Zealand, losing 6–13.
Simmons was selected for all games of the 1987 State of Origin
series, including the fourth game held in Long Beach, California, U.S.A. His last appearance in a New South Wales jersey was in game I of the 1988 series
, losing 18–26.
In 1983, Simmons was appointed captain of the team, a position he retained until 1990 when he captained the Panthers in the 1990 Grand Final loss to the Canberra Raiders
. Despite struggling with injuries, he memorably scored two tries in the 1991 Grand Final against the same opponents. The Panthers won their first premiership, and Simmons retired. In the post-game celebrations, Simmons said he wanted to have a beer with every Penrith supporter. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
which was lost to Wigan.
In October 2004, Simmons was named at hooker in the Panthers' Team of Legends.
Simmons went on to become Panthers coach in the closing stages of the 1994 NSWRL season after Phil Gould
was dismissed, and served for seven seasons until he was himself sacked from the position after the 2001 NRL season, when the Panthers won the wooden spoon. The Panthers made the finals twice under Simmons' tenure, in the 1997 Super League
finals and National Rugby League season 2000
finals.
Simmons served as the Wests Tigers
assistant coach under his former coach Tim Sheens
from 2003 to 2010, during which time they took out the 2005 NRL Premiership. He has also worked as Tim Sheens' assistant coach for the Australian national team.
Simmons was named to take over the coaching position at St Helens in 2011.
Rugby league
Rugby league football, usually called rugby league, is a full contact sport played by two teams of thirteen players on a rectangular grass field. One of the two codes of rugby football, it originated in England in 1895 by a split from Rugby Football Union over paying players...
football coach and former player, currently the head coach of St Helens RLFC in the European Super League
Super League
Super League is the top-level professional rugby league football club competition in Europe. As a result of sponsorship from engage Mutual Assurance the competition is currently officially known as the engage Super League. The League features fourteen teams: thirteen from England and one from...
. A former test hooker, New South Wales
New South Wales Rugby League team
The New South Wales rugby league team has represented the Australian state of New South Wales in rugby league football since the sport's beginnings there in 1907. Administered by the New South Wales Rugby League, the team competes in the annual State of Origin series against arch-rivals, the...
representative and long-serving Penrith Panthers
Penrith Panthers
The Penrith Panthers are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in the western Sydney suburb of Penrith. They compete in the National Rugby League premiership, the top rugby league football competition in Australasia. For the 2012 NRL season they will be coached by Ivan...
player in the New South Wales Rugby League premiership
New South Wales Rugby League premiership
The New South Wales Rugby League premiership was the first rugby league football club competition established in Australia. Run by the New South Wales Rugby League from 1908 until 1994, the premiership was the state's and later the country's elite rugby league competition...
, he later became coach of the club after his retirement.
Playing career
After trialling with both St. GeorgeSt. George Dragons
The St George Dragons was an Australian Rugby league football club in St George, Sydney, New South Wales that played in Australia's top-level Rugby league competition from New South Wales Rugby Football League in 1921 until 1998; in 1999 they formed a joint venture with the Illawarra Steelers,...
and Souths
South Sydney Rabbitohs
The South Sydney Rabbitohs are an Australian professional rugby league football team based in Redfern, a suburb of South-central Sydney, New South Wales. They participate in the National Rugby League premiership and are one of nine existing teams from the state capital...
, Simmons was eventually given a contract in 1980 with Penrith. Simmons played much of his first year at lock but was moved to hooker late in the 1981 season.
Simmons was first selected to represent New South Wales as a hooker for games II and III of the 1984 State of Origin series, replacing Rex Wright
Rex Wright
Rex Wright is an Australian former professional rugby league player for the North Sydney Bears in the New South Wales Rugby League competition. He also made one appearance at representative level for New South Wales...
who had been chosen for game I.
A successful 1986 series
1986 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1986 State of Origin series was the 7th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. It was the year that New South Wales finally asserted some dominance and won the series in the first ever 3-0 Origin whitewash...
against Queensland, including a Man of the Match in game I, secured Simmons a place as the first Penrith player to represent Australia. He made his debut against New Zealand
New Zealand national rugby league team
The New Zealand national rugby league team has represented New Zealand in rugby league football since intercontinental competition began for the sport in 1907. Administered by the New Zealand Rugby League, they are commonly known as the Kiwis, after the native bird of that name...
in July 1986 and played in ten international games over the next year. Simmons' final test appearance came in Australia at Lang Park
Suncorp Stadium
Lang Park is the original name of the site located in the Brisbane suburb of Milton, Queensland, Australia, now occupied by the major sports facility known by its sponsorship name, Suncorp Stadium...
against New Zealand, losing 6–13.
Simmons was selected for all games of the 1987 State of Origin
1987 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1987 State of Origin series was the 8th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland. It saw the emergence of new faces who would go on to become Origin legends - Queensland's Allan Langer and New South Wales' Andrew Ettingshausen; record crowds for all three Australian...
series, including the fourth game held in Long Beach, California, U.S.A. His last appearance in a New South Wales jersey was in game I of the 1988 series
1988 Rugby League State of Origin series
The 1988 State of Origin series was the 9th annual 'series contested between New South Wales and Queensland.Queensland enjoyed their first ever 3–0 series whitewash mirroring a feat New South Wales had first achieved two years earlier...
, losing 18–26.
In 1983, Simmons was appointed captain of the team, a position he retained until 1990 when he captained the Panthers in the 1990 Grand Final loss to 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...
. Despite struggling with injuries, he memorably scored two tries in the 1991 Grand Final against the same opponents. The Panthers won their first premiership, and Simmons retired. In the post-game celebrations, Simmons said he wanted to have a beer with every Penrith supporter. Following the grand final victory he travelled with the Panthers to England for the 1991 World Club Challenge
1991 World Club Challenge
The 1991 World Club Challenge was contested by 1990–91 RFL Championship winners, Wigan and 1991 NSWRL season premiers, the Penrith Panthers. The match was played on a dry Wednesday the 2nd of October, 1991 at Anfield, Liverpool...
which was lost to Wigan.
In October 2004, Simmons was named at hooker in the Panthers' Team of Legends.
Coaching career
Simmons began coaching in 1992 for St Marys reserve grade side. The following year he moved to England to coach Hull for two seasons.Simmons went on to become Panthers coach in the closing stages of the 1994 NSWRL season after Phil Gould
Phil Gould
Phil Gould is an Australian rugby league broadcaster, journalist, administrator and former player and coach. Since the 1990s he has had a prominent role in Channel 9's coverage of rugby league, as a commentator on their match-day coverage, and appears on The Sunday Footy Show and The Sunday Roast...
was dismissed, and served for seven seasons until he was himself sacked from the position after the 2001 NRL season, when the Panthers won the wooden spoon. The Panthers made the finals twice under Simmons' tenure, in the 1997 Super League
Super League (Australia) season 1997
The 1997 Super League season was the 90th season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the first and only to be run by the News Limited-controlled Super League organisation...
finals and National Rugby League season 2000
National Rugby League season 2000
The 2000 NRL season was the 93rd season of professional rugby league football in Australia and the third to be run by the National Rugby League...
finals.
Simmons served as the Wests Tigers
Wests Tigers
The Wests Tigers are an Australian professional rugby league football club based in Sydney's mid-western suburbs. They have competed in the National Rugby League since they were formed at the end of the 1999 season as a joint-venture club between the Balmain Tigers and the Western Suburbs...
assistant coach under his former coach Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens
Tim Sheens is an Australian professional rugby league football coach and former player. He currently coaches the Wests Tigers of the National Rugby League and in 2009 was appointed coach of the Australian national team, the Kangaroos...
from 2003 to 2010, during which time they took out the 2005 NRL Premiership. He has also worked as Tim Sheens' assistant coach for the Australian national team.
Simmons was named to take over the coaching position at St Helens in 2011.