The Wests Tigers are yet to appoint a head coach for 2023 but Joe Ofahengaue is urging them to seriously consider Kristian Woolf.
Lock forward Joe Ofahengaue has thrown his support behind Kristian Woolf as a potential head coach of the Wests Tigers for 2023 and beyond.
Woolf has led English club St Helens to two Super League grand final victories since his appointment to the head coaching role in 2020 and has been suggested as a possible long-term successor to Michael Maguire, whom the Tigers fired mid-season.
Woolf also boasts a distinguished CV at representative level - as coach of Tonga, he oversaw their rise to the 2017 World Cup semi-finals and the historic defeat of Australia two years later.
Ofahengaue has played for Tonga seven times under Woolf and is recommending him highly to the Tigers.
"I love him," Ofahengaue said.
"It would be cool to be coached by him in club land. He's gotten so good over there (in the Super League). He's a superstar."
Tigers general manager of football Tim Sheens has previously stressed the need to appoint a development-oriented coach and Woolf's experience in North Queensland's junior systems as well as an assistant at NRL level would fit the bill.
Ofahengaue said he was confident Woolf could get the best out of the Tigers' young playing group.
"What makes 'Woolfy' a good coach is he's got that tough edge about him but he's also got that soft edge. He's great to have a one-on-one conversation with," he said.
"The reason why he's so successful with the Tonga team is because we know that if we stuff up, he's going to beat our arses. He's a tough, tough coach but also really approachable."
Nathan Brown vacated the Warriors' head coaching position on the same day Maguire left the Tigers but the New Zealand side are close to appointing their new head coach.
Woolf knocked the Warriors' job offer back but they have since been linked to Penrith assistant coach Andrew Webster.
"We'll be making a decision on that in the very near future," Warriors CEO Cameron George said.
"We're finalising a couple of things later today and tomorrow and we hope to make an announcement soon."
