Netball Super League | Leeds Rhinos Netball announce Tracey Robinson as new Head Coach

Tracey Robinson with Malaysia on 14 August 2017. Source | NSTP/OSMAN ADNAN

Leeds Rhinos Netball have confirmed the appointment of former Malaysian national coach and NSW Swifts assistant coach Tracey Robinson as their new Head Coach for the 2022 Vitality Netball Superleague (VNSL) season.

The Australian comes with a wealth of experience and a reputation for identifying and developing emerging talent, having worked with a number of athletes who have gone on to represent the Australian Diamonds.

Most recently Robinson has coached internationally with Malaysia, where she achieved a number of successes, including leading the team to their first Asian Netball Championship in 32 years and their first ever South East Asian Games Championship.

On the domestic scene, Robinson was assistant coach with NSW Swifts and helped them win the Championship in 2008. In 2010 she moved to Queensland Firebirds as assistant coach and during this time saw the team win two from three Grand Finals and go unbeaten in 2011. In 2015 she became assistant coach with West Coast Fever who then reached the semi-finals for the first ever time.

Speaking about joining the club Robinson said: “I am so excited to be joining the club, the girls have been so welcoming and the whole organisation has been fantastic towards me so I am ready to getting over there and working with the girls.

“I have watched every game the team has played in, so it’s been really good to see their growth from last year even into the pre-season this year. They are a really close knit bunch and I am looking forward to working with them and developing them a bit more.

“I had a meeting with them a couple of weeks ago and I have had a Facetime with Jade Clarke so it’s been really good to connect with them before I get over. Most of the communication has been done by email and they have been really open so it’s going to be exiting I think. Getting them on court and actually working with them and understanding them and communicating with them is really important and I can’t wait to get started.”

Robinson is due to fly out to the UK in the next week from her home in Australia and will join up with the team in pre-season ahead of the new Superleague season which begins for the Rhinos on 6^th February against reigning Champions Loughborough Lightning.

Dan Busfield, franchise director of Leeds Rhinos Netball, said: “We are delighted that Tracey is joining the Rhinos. We believe we have secured a coach who fits the Rhinos culture and we can’t wait for her to join up with the team.

“Tracey will continue to work with Maggie Birkinshaw as assistant coach, who has been fantastic over the last few months leading the team in pre-season. I am aware they have both been in regular contact and have discussed plans over Zoom calls this last couple of months.

“If we needed any confirmation we had the right person, Tracey comes with a glowing reference from Australian Netball legend Norma Plummer who I have personally been in contact with. The season is just over a month away and I know Tracey can’t wait to get over here to get stuck into training and we are all thrilled to have her as part of our team.”

Leeds Rhinos Netball will play their Vitality Netball Superleague games at three different venues across Yorkshire in 2022. Their first home game will be against last year’s semi-finalists Team Bath at the EIS in Sheffield on 14^th February and the team will also play at the Allam Sports Centre in Hull and the first direct Arena in Leeds will host two showpiece events against two-time champions Wasps in March and three-time champions Manchester Thunder in May.

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