Chance to work for Hull rivals ‘too good’

As a former player of both Hull FC and Hull KR, the Australian knows each club well as he takes charge of their controversial joint-Under 19s side for 2016.

Webster, who stood down as Trinity Wildcats coach with the club bottom of Super League in June, is delighted to be involved in the sport again.

He will now work closely with the academy management team to implement new structures and oversee all aspects of training and on-field performance as the academy looks to develop Super League stars of the future.

“It’s a great challenge and one I’m extremely looking forward to,” said Webster, who spent four years as a player with Rovers after joining from Parramatta Eels in 2005 and later became assistant coach at Hull FC.

“The academy is a huge project and to head it up was an opportunity I couldn’t turn down.

“In today’s market, it is very difficult to acquire top-end English players from other clubs so to be able to have the resources to produce them ourselves is brilliant.

“Hopefully, in the new system, we can produce more high quality players.”

Webster, 36, continued: “I’ve had a tour around Bishop Burton College where the academy will be based and the facilities are outstanding.

“It is somewhere I was already familiar with having worked down there whilst I was at FC but since then it’s come on leaps and bounds. The hard work starts now.”

Academy director Danny Wilson admitted: “We are thrilled to have secured the services of a top coach of James’ pedigree in the game.

“He is a talented individual that has experience at the highest level, is an astute operator and his knowledge of the game is second to none.”