Andrew Webster’s wife, Emma Webster, couldn’t be more proud of her husband’s latest achievements. After all, sacrifices have been made from both sides, which has led to Andrew being crowned the best coach.
In his first season as the head coach of the New Zealand Warriors, Andrew Webster won the Dally M Coach of the Year award.
Emma accompanied her husband to the award ceremony and saw her husband beat out Ivan Cleary and Kevin Walters to the prestigious award. Webster had previously worked as an assistant coach for Cleary at Panthers and Tigers.
“Up the Wahs” chant filled the room as Wesbter accepted the award, and the Australian is only getting started at his club.
Andrew Webster Wife, Emma Webster
Andrew Webster wife, Emma Webster, was the first person the New Zealand Warrior coached thanked after winning the NRL Coach of the Year honor.
The Australian rugby coach started his speech by complimenting his wife. Webster said he first wanted to thank the most beautiful woman in the room, his wife, Emma.
He continued his speech, describing his wife as a “good sort,” and also revealed she knows nothing about the sport. And though the speech started with good fun, it quickly became emotional.
Webster thanked his better half for letting him chase his dreams and moving countries for his job. He was also grateful to his wife for having their first baby in a different country.
Previously, in an interview, Andrew revealed Emma and their son were enjoying their lives in New Zealand, hinting he could stay with his team beyond his current contract.
Their recent stay in New Zealand isn’t the first time the couple has lived together in the island nation. In 2015, when Webster was the assistant coach for Warriors under Andrew McFadden, he lived in New Zealand with Emma.
Warriors Chief Executive Cameron George said in an interview in 2022 that the two had enjoyed their first stint in New Zealand, so he expects them to enjoy their time again in the country.
And they sure are enjoying their time in New Zealand. Emma isn’t available on social media and has kept herself away from the spotlight. Last night was the first time Emma made a public appearance with her husband.
Andrew Webster Career
Andrew Webster began his coaching career as a 23-year-old. His playing career wasn’t fruitful, which saw him playing in the junior league for Carlingford Cougars.
He later played for Dubdad Shamrocks and joined Balmain Tigers in 1998. His playing career ended with Eastwood Rugby Club in 2004, and a year later, he packed his bags and headed to the US.
His first stint as a coach began in the American Rugby team, Connecticut Wildcats. Webster joined them as player-coach. He then traveled to England, where his brother, James Webster, was the half-back of Hull KR.
And though he got the assistant coach’s role, it paid him in peanuts. He cleaned the grandstands, ran the water, and did the security one night. In 2008, Webster returned to Australia and joined Paramatta Eels.
He stayed one season with the Eels before returning to Hull KR. After three seasons with Hull, Webster returned to Australia to coach the Tigers SG Ball side.
With the Tigers, Wesbter achieved his first success as a coach. He won the SG Ball Cup with the team and also won the under-18 national final.
His newfound success with the Tigers made the Eels want him to become their under-20s coach, but that went unexpectedly bad. So, Andrew returned to the Tigers in 2014.
In 2015, Webster joined the New Zealand Warriors, earning his first gig in the NRL. He stayed with the Warriors for two seasons before returning to the Tigers as an assistant coach, where he worked with Ivan Cleary.
In 2021, Webster followed Cleary to Penrith Panthers, where the two won back-to-back premierships. During the middle of the 2022 season, Andrew received the call from Warriors chief executive Cameron George to become the head coach of the Warriors.
And the rest was history. He led the Warriors to a top-four finish and the club’s first home semifinal since 2007.
