FIVE years after agreeing to be Head Coach of Warrington Wolves Women’s Super League team for one season, Lee Westwood will take charge of his last game when they meet St Helens at the Totally Wicked Stadium this Sunday, September 10.
Warrington-born Lee has decided the time has come for a fresh challenge after leading the team for the past five years. Lee, 49, has been associated with the Warrington Wolves Foundation for 16 years and will still be involved with recruitment for the men’s Scholarship and Prospects programmes. And he leaves the role delighted that the opportunity to play Rugby League is a reality for girls of all ages in the town.
He said: “I’m sorry to be leaving because I’ve really enjoyed it but it is the right time to move on to a fresh challenge – I said I would do it for a year and ended up staying for five.
“The goal was to get into Super League and we have achieved that. We have developed some girls who had never even played Rugby League before into good players.
“We have now got a solid base for all those girls who want to come through to play the sport and there is now the chance for them to play Super League for Warrington Wolves.”
The women’s team was set up in 2018 after 80 turned up for the open age trials led by Lee and the Foundation’s current Community Rugby League manager Lee Mitchell.
After winning the Championship Grand Final in their inaugural year to get into Super League, the Covid-19 Pandemic and Lockdown meant the league was put on hold.
When restrictions were lifted, the league was split and the girls found themselves in Super League 2. Undeterred, they went through the season unbeaten and clinched promotion again with an impressive 34-6 win over Featherstone Rovers in the Shield Final last September.
Lee said: “That was an unbelievable season. We scored lots of points but the best thing about it was our defensive efforts all the way through.”
Away from the Women’s team, Lee coached Great Sankey High School’s Year 7 to victory in the National RFL Schools Trophy at Wembley in 2019 in the warm-up to Warrington’s famous victory over St Helens in the Challenge Cup Final.
What made the day more memorable for Lee was that both sons lifted a trophy – Junior with Great Sankey and Dec with the Wolves.
His three daughters, Shakira, Atlanta and Georgia have also represented the Wolves at different levels, with Georgia currently playing for the first team and training with the Welsh squad.
And Lee has thanked the staff who have been on hand, with special mentions for team manager Estelle Graham, former strength and conditioning coach Matt Heaton, physio Kat Hayes, welfare officer Nikki Whalley and Wire legend Benny Westwood for his help and advice.
He added: “They all done a fantastic job in getting the team to where it is today and I know they will give nothing but their full support for whoever takes over from me.”
