Dragons great Jamie Soward cops brutal blow as NRLW coach considers immediate exit
Soward has been informed that he won't be the Dragons' NRLW coach next season.
Jamie Soward has been left to grapple with the news he will be out of a job next year after the Dragons informed him he would not be the side's NRLW coach in 2025. Soward was told on Monday that the mutual option in his contract for next season will not be activated after a shaky start to the 2024 season.
One of the NRLW's highest-profile coaches, Soward, took the Dragons to a grand final in his first year in charge in 2021. The former Dragons half then needed to rebuild the squad the following season after a host of young talent left the club on the back of the triumphant season.
The Dragons have since brought through some of the best young talent in the league but sit eighth after six rounds in 2024 with two wins and four losses. Yet Saturday's 42-14 win over the Eels showcased just how good the side can be when they put it all together.
But it was too little too late to save Soward's job, with the Dragons great informed there would be no place for him at the club in 2025. And they left the ball in his court whether or not to see out the remainder of the 2024 campaign.
Soward took to social media on Monday night to confirm he would be departing the club. "Guess it's not meant to be. All good. Keep moving," he wrote on X. "I won't be at the club going forward."
The former NSW State of Origin playmaker is understood not yet to have made up his mind whether to finish now or in three weeks at the end of the regular NRLW season. Soward previously put his hand up for the Women's Origin coaching role after the Sky Blues slumped to a third series loss in four years this season. Current coach Kylie Hilder is off contract at the end of this year and Soward could once again throw his hat in the ring for the job.
Dragons believe NRLW side needs fresh voice
The Dragons have a slim chance of making the NRLW finals after just two wins, however, one of those was against premiers Newcastle in the upset of the season. If they miss the top four, as expected, it will be for the second year straight they have missed out on finals footy.
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It is believed that a disconnect between coach and players is the reason behind the sudden mid-season decision, with the club believing players need a fresh new voice to take them to the top. Who they appoint as the side's coach in 2025 is vital with the majority of the NRLW squad off-contract at the end of 2025, including star fullback Teagan Berry.
with AAP
