Wallabies great Matt Giteau joins NRL club in coaching role

Wallabies great Matt Giteau has joined the Canberra Raiders on a part-time basis, with the NRL club confirming three new additions to the male pathways coaching staff.

Giteau has signed on as a specialist coach along with two-time NRL premiership winner Dale Finucane and former Raider Matt Frawley. They will help out with the Raiders Academy, and support the Harold Mathews and SG Ball Cup programs.

The two-time Rugby World Cup finalist made more than 100 international appearances for the Wallabies, having debuted for the national team in 2002 against England. Giteau came off the bench in the 2003 World Cup final and started the 2015 decider at inside centre.

In a decorated club career, Giteau played for the ACT Brumbies over two stints and for the Western Force. The playmaker also spent time overseas with European giants Toulon, Suntory Sungoliath in Japan, and with Major League Rugby franchises the LA Giltinis and San Diego Legion.

Giteau’s father Ron was the 38^th representative of the Raiders, playing four seasons between 1983 and 1986, and his brother Justin also spent time with the club. The Canberra local is excited about the opportunity ahead with the Raiders.

“To be involved with the Raiders is very special. It’s only a small and limited capacity, but I’m honoured to be here especially given the history of my father and brother being involved as well,” Giteau said in a statement.

“I’ll be more attack focused – catch and pass, ball handling, decision making and skills specific training. It’s also great to connect with guys like Dale and Matt and work with them.”

Former Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs, Melbourne Storm and Cronulla Sharks enforcer Finucane is another notable addition to the Raiders’ pathways program.

Finucane won NRL premierships in 2017 and 2020 with the Storm and made a handful of State of Origin appearances for New South Wales. The forward also represented Country against City over four years.

Frawley hung up the boots as a player earlier this year, bringing an end to a career that spanned more than 100 games. The playmaker spent time with the Bulldogs, Raiders, and English clubs Huddersfield and Leeds.

“The knowledge they have and can pass on to our group is so impressive,” Canberra Raiders Pathways & Performance Manager Tim Wykes explained.

“It’s not just their skills and experience, it’s the quality of humans they are too. You couldn’t find three better gentlemen so we’re really lucky and privileged to have them.”

Finucane added: “Obviously living relatively close to Canberra, it was a really good fit for me. I’ll be specialising in more defensive wrestle-specific training.

“I particularly enjoy working with this age group of 16-20 year olds where everyone is wanting to get better and aspiring to play NRL. To be able to impact those guys and see their progression is really exciting,”