Folkes joins Tigers

A year after he walked out on Canterbury, Steve Folkes is back in the NRL with Wests Tigers.

Folkes will join the Tigers as a High Performance Manager and will work alongside head coach Tim Sheens and his assistants Royce Simmons and Peter Gentle.

The former New South Wales Origin second-rower ended an association with the Bulldogs spanning thirty years when he stepped down as coach at the end of last season.

In the meantime, Folkes has spent time as strength and conditioning coach of the West Indies cricket team.

Tigers coach Tim Sheens said Folkes’ appointment would add a new dimension to the club.

“Steve is the man I wanted,” Sheens told AAP.

“There is plenty of great talent and skilful players at Wests Tigers and with Steve now here, it will take our high performance program to a new level.”

Folkes, who guided Canterbury to NRL glory in 2004, said he could not wait to start his new role.

“I’m really looking forward to contributing to the Wests Tigers program in 2010,” he said.

“Tim Sheens has an excellent history of success as an NRL coach and it will be a real pleasure working with him, my old mate Royce Simmons, and Peter Gentle.”