Toovey confirmed as Bradford coach

Geoff Toovey has been confirmed as the coach of the new version of the Bradford club.

The former hooker and halfback coached Manly Sea Eagles from 2012 to 2015.

New club owner Graham Lowe said: “We wanted a coach that was courageous, experienced and was a good person. Respect was important as well.

“At this time of year it’s not an easy thing to come up with, to appoint a coach of the calibre that this club deserves.

“I started to think about coaches that I knew and players that I’d coach who I’d seen perform under pressure and perform courageously.

“When I went to Manly in Sydney I met a gentleman that quickly became one of my dearest friends and one of the greatest players I’ve coached.

“That man was Geoff Toovey. Everybody is going to like Geoff. He’s a proud person and he’s not coming here to muck around.

“He’s a fantastic coach, a proven coach and an uncompromising coach.

“He’s up for a challenge all the time and I can’t wait for him to get here. I think we’ve got a great rugby league person in this part of the world.”

Toovey was an assistant under Geoff Toovey for Manly’s grand final wins in 2008 and 2011, and led the Sea Eagles to the 2013 NRL decider.

He was replaced at Brookvale by Trent Barrett at the end of 2016.

Since then Toovey, an accountant by trade, has worked as an NRL analyst on TV channel Fox Sports.

“I’m well aware of the challenge ahead of us but as coaches and players these are the things that encourage us to do better and achieve our goals,” the Australian said in a statement.

“I’m really excited about this role and can’t wait to start getting things together at the Bulls.

“The club, staff, players and fans deserve the best and that’s what I aim to deliver.”