Wests Tigers Women’s program is building nicely ahead of the club’s inaugural season in the NRLW, with several key appointments in recent months.
2022 Wests Tigers Woman of the Year Jess Schwartz has recently taken on the position of Pathways Operations Manager, stepping up from her role as Team Manager of last year’s premiership-winning Harvey Norman Women’s team.
The club is also delighted to welcome Jess Bygate, who has recently commenced her role as Football Manager – Wests Tigers Women. Both women bring a wealth of experience to key roles at the club, and we'll delve into their stories in the new year.
The club is fortunate to have some very talented women in its coaching ranks as well, among them Letitia Taylor and Taiana Scanlan.
Scanlan was recently announced as the Assistant Coach of our Harvey Norman Women’s team, while Taylor will take charge of Wests Tigers Tarsha Gale Cup Under 19s side.
It’s been quite a decade for Taylor, who plans to squeeze in a whole lot more rugby league in the decades to come.
Taylor became the first female head coach at Wests Tigers last season when she took charge of the Tarsha Gale team. Entering her fourth season in a coaching role at the club, she believes the road ahead looks promising.
“I think we have some really good programs in place, from the Roar Academy for our younger girls through to the NRLW," she said.
"There’s a clear path ahead now and a lot for our female players to aspire to.”
Taylor has come a long way in the game since running on as a 13-year-old halfback in an under-18s women’s team for Penrith junior club, St Clair.
Now in her mid-twenties, she has no regrets about putting all her effort into coaching, having retired from playing four years ago.
“I was playing and coaching, but it became a bit tough to juggle both roles, but I really love what I’m doing,” she said.
Taylor’s taste for coaching is growing stronger by the season, and ‘one day’ she wants to make it to the top.
“I am keen to take coaching seriously,” she added.
“My end goal would be to coach in the NRLW but this will be my first year as a full-time head coach so I know I still have a lot to learn.
I’m loving what I’m doing, but hopefully I will be able to progress when the time is right.”
Letitia Taylor
Taylor will lead an all-female coaching staff, with Mele Kavapalu and Kellie Stout named as her assistants
Scanlan is also keen to advance her career in coaching, but right now is looking forward to her new role at Wests Tigers.
”My goal one day is to hopefully land a head coach role in the women’s game,” she said.
“Whether that’s in the NRLW or even to be involved with an international team would be incredible.”
The 31-year-old from Western Sydney joins Wests Tigers from Penrith, where she was an assistant coach for the Panthers’ Tarsha Gale team.
Scanlan explains that her journey to Concord began playing Oz Tag, where she was coached by Wests Tigers HNW coach, Adel Hage.
“Adel approached me because he knows me so well. We’ve won a few national (Oz Tag) titles together,” she said.
Scanlan has plenty on her plate as a mother of four, but still finds time to fuel her other passion, and that’s helping our youth within the community.
She does that daily in her role as Program Coordinator for Sydney Region Aboriginal Corporation. SRAC is a not for profit organisation based in Penrith providing a range of programs to address the ongoing disparity between Indigenous and non-Indigenous people.
“I find what I do is fulfilling, knowing I’m helping others,” she said.
“A lot of time is spent with Indigenous youth and helping them on the right path in life.”
Coaching is also a way for Scanlan to make a positive impact on younger people.
“The main thing I like about coaching is that it enables me to pass on knowledge, especially to younger people in the community,” she said
In her ‘spare time’ and between running her kids to and from sport, Scanlan runs special community clinics and events. The program is called ‘From the Area, For the Area’, and you guessed it, it’s about helping others.
“We help to provide opportunities and extra activities for people from lower socioeconomic backgrounds,” she explains.
“Again, it’s about helping people find the right path to follow.”
