British Origin Coaches Named

Warrington's Paul Cullen and Castleford's Graham Steadman have been confirmed as the respective coaches of Lancashire and Yorkshire for the 2003 Origin Game, and the full British representative coaching roster has been confirmed.

Cullen and Steadman have developed into Super League coaches over recent seasons, and they will lead their counties this yer, with Wigan's Mike Gregory being the Lancashire assistant and Leeds' Daryl Powell being Steadman's number two.

It has also been announced that Powell will take charge of the Ireland team for this year's European Nations Cup, along with other British coaches for the Scotland and Wales outfits.

As well as this, other key positions within the Rugby Football League's High Performance Coaching structure have been filled by home-grown coaches. Great Britain head coach and RFL performance director David Waite said: "We are delighted that these key representative positions can be filled by targetted, talented British coaches.

"Paul Cullen and Graham Steadman were both assistant coaches in their respective Origin set-ups last season and it is appropriate that they now take full charge of their sides for this year's clash."

"Both men will benefit from working in this format of representative football and their abilities and input will make the 2003 Origin match a highly competative encounter."

The complete Rugby Football League representative coaching roster for 2003, including some coaches already in position, is as follows:

Great Britain Head coach: David Waite Assistant coach 1: Brian Noble (Bradford) Assistant coach 2: Graham Steadman (Castleford) England A Head coach: John Kear (Hull) Assistant coach: Paul Cullen (Warrington) Scotland Head coach: Mike Gregory (Wigan) Assistant coach: David Lyon (St Helens) Wales Head coach: Neil Kelly (Widnes) Assistant coach: Jon Sharpe (St Helens) Ireland Head coach: Daryl Powell (Leeds) Assistant coach: Andy Kelly (Featherstone) Yorkshire Head coach: Graham Steadman (Castleford) Assistant coach: Daryl Powell (Leeds) Lancashire Head coach: Paul Cullen (Warrington) Assistant coach: Mike Gregory (Wigan) Super League Under-21's Head coach: Steve Crooks (Hull) Assistant coach: Denis Betts (Wigan) National League Under-21's Head coach: Steve McCormack (Whitehaven) Assistant coach: Phil Windley (Hull) National League One Head coach: Karl Harrison (Salford) Assistant coach: TBC National League Two Head coach: Peter Roe (Swinton) Assistant coach: Paul Fletcher (Gateshead) Yorkshire Junior Academy Head coach: Lee St Hilaire (Huddersfield) Assistant coach: Lee Crooks (National Camp) Lancashire Junior Academy Head coach: Gary Chambers (Warrington) Assistant coach: Gareth Pratt (Halifax) Combined Youth Head coach: Stuart Wilkinson (Leeds) Assistant coach 1: Denis Betts (Wigan) Assistant coach 2: Basil Richards (National Camp) English Schools Head coach: Dave Rotheram (London) Assistant coach: John Bartlett (Salford) Link - 16's Head coach: Stuart Wilkinson (Leeds) Assistant coach 1: Denis Betts (Wigan) Assistant coach 2: Basil Richards (National Camp) Link - 15's Head coach: Dave Rotheram (London) Assistant coach 1: John Bartlett (Salford) Assistant coach 2: Lee Crooks (National Camp) Link - 14's Head coach: Joe Warburton (National Camp) Assistant coach 1: Dean Sampson (Castleford) Assistant coach 2: Paul Dixon (National Camp)