Staff Bio
Raised in the suburb of Woodberry in Maitland in the Hunter Valley, Griffiths is of Australian Indigenous descent, a Gomeroi man who grew up on Awabakal country.
In 2012, Griffiths coached the Maitland Pickers in the Newcastle Rugby League, as well as mentoring the under-16s New South Wales Koori side. In 2014, he coached the Greta-Branxton Colts as well as being a pathways coach with the New South Wales VB Cup representative side. In 2016, he became head coach at the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs. In 2019, he worked with the coaching staff at the Wests Tigers before taking up an assistant coach role with the team in 2020. In 2021, he was a part of the coaching staff for the Indigenous All Stars side.
In April 2022, Griffiths was announced as the head coach of the Newcastle Knights' NRLW team. The team won 4 of its 5 regular season games, before winning the semi-final match and ultimately winning the 2022 NRLW Premiership, the Knights' defeating the Parramatta Eels 32-12.
Griffiths became Head Coach of the Indigenous All Stars Men side and would coach the NRLW team to another premiership win in 2023, before being announced as the Knights' NSW Cup head coach going into 2024.
On 1 July, the New Zealand Warriors announced the appointment of Griffiths as head coach of their NRLW team, who return to the competition in 2025. Griffiths was appointed on a three-year deal.
Warriors CEO Cameron George said of the signing, “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Ron joining us for our return to the NRLW,
"It was critical to appoint the best possible coach for this role and we’ve been able to do that."
“It was critical to appoint the best possible coach for this role and we’ve been able to do that. Ron has terrific coaching pedigree and will add tremendous value to our club as we make our way back in the NRLW.”
“We couldn’t have a better coach to launch our NRLW return,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“What Ron did with the Knights in the NRLW over the last two seasons is testament to his ability to build a team from scratch. He’s also passionate about developing our pathways for the women’s game here in New Zealand.”
Griffiths said he was excited about creating a foundation for the future for the women’s game in New Zealand.
“As a family we’re so grateful to be coming over to be involved with a club that has such a proud history,” said Griffiths.
“It’s exciting to start with a blank canvas, having the opportunity to build a women’s programme from the ground up.
“I’ll be working closely with the people in pathways to set up a structure that delivers sustainable success for the club and develops players and staff from within for the future.”
In 2012, Griffiths coached the Maitland Pickers in the Newcastle Rugby League, as well as mentoring the under-16s New South Wales Koori side. In 2014, he coached the Greta-Branxton Colts as well as being a pathways coach with the New South Wales VB Cup representative side. In 2016, he became head coach at the Kurri Kurri Bulldogs. In 2019, he worked with the coaching staff at the Wests Tigers before taking up an assistant coach role with the team in 2020. In 2021, he was a part of the coaching staff for the Indigenous All Stars side.
In April 2022, Griffiths was announced as the head coach of the Newcastle Knights' NRLW team. The team won 4 of its 5 regular season games, before winning the semi-final match and ultimately winning the 2022 NRLW Premiership, the Knights' defeating the Parramatta Eels 32-12.
Griffiths became Head Coach of the Indigenous All Stars Men side and would coach the NRLW team to another premiership win in 2023, before being announced as the Knights' NSW Cup head coach going into 2024.
On 1 July, the New Zealand Warriors announced the appointment of Griffiths as head coach of their NRLW team, who return to the competition in 2025. Griffiths was appointed on a three-year deal.
Warriors CEO Cameron George said of the signing, “We’re absolutely thrilled to have Ron joining us for our return to the NRLW,
"It was critical to appoint the best possible coach for this role and we’ve been able to do that."
“It was critical to appoint the best possible coach for this role and we’ve been able to do that. Ron has terrific coaching pedigree and will add tremendous value to our club as we make our way back in the NRLW.”
“We couldn’t have a better coach to launch our NRLW return,” said One New Zealand Warriors general manager recruitment, pathways and development Andrew McFadden.
“What Ron did with the Knights in the NRLW over the last two seasons is testament to his ability to build a team from scratch. He’s also passionate about developing our pathways for the women’s game here in New Zealand.”
Griffiths said he was excited about creating a foundation for the future for the women’s game in New Zealand.
“As a family we’re so grateful to be coming over to be involved with a club that has such a proud history,” said Griffiths.
“It’s exciting to start with a blank canvas, having the opportunity to build a women’s programme from the ground up.
“I’ll be working closely with the people in pathways to set up a structure that delivers sustainable success for the club and develops players and staff from within for the future.”
