Six potential candidates to be next Wakefield head coach

We’ve picked six potential candidates to take over the head coaching role at Wakefield…

On Tuesday, Wakefield announced that they had parted ways with head coach Chris Chester after five years.

READ: Wakefield in “no rush” to appoint new head coach after Chris Chester exit

Wakefield chief executive Michael Carter says he received interest within a minute of announce the departure of Chester, but the club are in no rush to fill the vacancy.

We’ve taken a look at six potential candidates for the role…

Willie Poching

The former New Zealand and Samoa international has taken over the head coaching duties at Wakefield on an interim basis following Chester’s sacking.

Poching is in pole position for the job. It will be a big couple of weeks for Poching, who will play out his CV as he makes a bid to become the permanent boss.

The 47-year-old has spent time as assistant coach at Wakefield, Hull KR, Salford and Warrington. He has also coached Samoa.

Andy Last

Former Hull coach Last will remain on the backroom staff at Trinity and will work alongside interim head coach Poching.

There has been talk of Last re-uniting with Lee Radford at Castleford next season, but could he be tempted by a head coaching role at Wakefield?

The 40-year-old won eight from his 14 games in charge of hometown club Hull last season before leaving the club and then linking up with Trinity.

Andrew Henderson

Henderson will leave his position as assistant coach at Warrington at the end of the year, and he has made no secret of the fact that he wants to be a head coach in Super League at some point in the near future.

The 42-year-old is a highly-regarded coach in the game, having spent three successful seasons as London Broncos head coach between 2015-17. He also won 16 of his 17 games in charge of Sheffield in 2013.

A former Scotland international, Henderson made more than 400 career appearances during his playing career.

Danny Orr

Orr left Castleford at the end of last season and became Richard Marshall’s assistant at Salford.

The former Great Britain international has yet to have a head coaching gig, so could he be tempted with a move to Belle Vue?

Orr is a well-respected coach in the game, having spent seven years on the coaching staff at hometown club Castleford prior to his move to the Red Devils earlier this year.

Brian McDermott

McDermott is a highly successful coach, having won four Super League titles, a League Leaders’ Shield, two Challenge Cups and a World Club Challenge while in charge of Leeds between 2011-18.

He joined Championship side Oldham as a coaching consultant in July on a deal until the end of the season after the club parted ways with coach Matt Diskin.

McDermott coached Toronto Wolfpack between 2019-20 but was left without a job after they failed in their bid to gain re-admission into Super League. He coached Harlequins before he joined the Rhinos and also coached the USA at the 2017 World Cup. Could we see McDermott back in Super League with Wakefield?

Danny Ward

Danny Ward left his role as head coach of London Broncos early in July.

The 41-year-old was out of contract at the end of the season and had informed the capital club of his intention to move on. Both parties then decided to part company immediately, to give a new coach the opportunity to plan for next season and beyond.

Ward was assistant coach to Wayne Bennett on Great Britain’s tour of the southern hemisphere in 2019 and is highly thought of in rugby league circles. Could he be back in the game soon?

Who do you think will take over as Wakefield head coach? Let us know your thoughts in the comments below.