After this years Grand Final win, Royce Tout, with Aaron Gorrell, and Aaron’s two children Will (left) and Charlie.
The reigning Group 9 champions, the Gundagai Tigers, along with the broader Group 9 competition and the Riverina Bulls representative side, are actively searching for a new head coach following the shock announcement that Aaron Gorrell will depart the region. Gorrell has accepted the role of Jersey Flegg Head Coach with the St George Illawarra Dragons, marking a significant step in his coaching career and an unexpected void for Riverina Rugby League.
Gorrell, a former NRL player for the Dragons, only spent a single season at the helm of the Tigers but made it count, leading the club to their fifth premiership in a decade this year. He will return to the Illawarra to take charge of the Dragons’ Under 21s side beginning with the 2026 season, an opportunity he described as a “full circle moment.”
A Return to the Red V
The move sees Gorrell returning to the club where he progressed through the junior grades and represented at the top level for five seasons.
“I was lucky enough to actually play in the first ever St George Illawarra Flegg team back in 2000, so it’s a bit of a full circle thing for me,” Gorrell said.
“It probably wasn’t something I thought would ever happen, but I’m glad to get the opportunity and I’m looking forward to starting.”
The appointment was welcomed by the Dragons, with CEO Tim Watsford emphasising Gorrell’s deep connection to the club.
“Bringing Aaron back to the Dragons is big for the club,” Watsford stated. “He’s a local junior who came through our pathways system and went on to have a successful career in rugby league. He understands what it takes for these young men to succeed and will undoubtedly do a good job in preparing them as they continue their development.”
Watsford added that having a coach of Gorrell’s calibre will “certainly enhance” the environment for young players.
Gorrell, an Albion Park-Oak Flats Eagles junior, played in St George Illawarra’s inaugural Jersey Flegg squad and made his NRL debut for the club in 2002.
Eyes on the Pathway, Not the Summit
While a move into the lower grades naturally sparks speculation about future ambitions with the NRL team, Gorrell maintains his focus is entirely on the task at hand: delivering success to the Dragons’ Flegg team and playing a part in the development of future first-graders.
“I think when you start doing anything you want to be as good as you can at it, and I’m just glad I got an opportunity with the club I started with, and spent a lot of time with,” he explained. His immediate goal is clearly defined.
2006
“My job is to try and get blokes playing NRL,” he said. “It would mean the world to me to play a little part in their journey and for them to push through to the NRL.”
He believes the Dragons have a “strong squad” and a “great breeding ground,” noting the importance of instilling club values in the young players.
“The Dragons are a proud club, and I think it’s important for everybody to understand who they’re playing for, the values, and how important it is to the supporters.”
Bittersweet Farewell to Group 9
Despite the obvious career progression the Dragons’ offer represents, Gorrell acknowledged that leaving Gundagai and Group 9 was one of the hardest decisions of his career.
“They were great to me and my family, we had a great year, and it was probably the most enjoyable year I’ve had coaching,” he reflected. He holds his time at the Tigers fondly, saying he made memories that will last a lifetime in ‘Tuckerbox Town.’
“We’ll try and get back there and I’m happy to help them out wherever needed as well, the way they treated us was amazing.”
Gorrell’s time in the region started at Wagga Brothers in 2024 before moving to Gundagai, and he credited the competition with furthering his skills.
“You learn from everybody that you work with,” he said, noting the chance to coach some of the competition’s most talented players.
Representative Scene Ramifications
Gorrell’s departure has immediate repercussions for the representative scene. He was recently named as the Group 9 coach ahead of the return of the Kelly Cup fixture against Group 20 in February, a campaign he was instrumental in reviving. He felt it was important to go public with the news swiftly to allow time for the representative teams to find a suitable replacement.
“I kept seeing my name everywhere as coach, and I didn’t want to keep being named as the coach when I wasn’t going to do it,” he stated.
A replacement for the Group 9 representative role is expected to be announced over the coming weeks, while the Dragons’ 2026 Jersey Flegg Cup campaign is slated to kick off in March.
The immediate priority for Gundagai, Group 9, and the Riverina Bulls will be to find a replacement coach who can build on the legacy and success Gorrell leaves behind.
– Tully Potts
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