Ricky Henry (rugby league)
{{short description|New Zealand RL coach and former rugby league footballer}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=October 2020}}
{{Use Australian English|date=July 2013}}
{{Infobox rugby league biography
| name = Ricky Henry
| fullname =
| image =
| image_size =
| birth_date =
| birth_place =
| height =
| weight =
| retired = no
| position = {{rlp|CE}}
| teamA = NZ Māori
| yearAstart = 1996
| yearAend =
| appearancesA = 2
| triesA = 2
| goalsA = 0
| fieldgoalsA = 0
| pointsA = 8
| coachteamA = NZ Kiwi Ferns
| coachyearAstart = 2022
| coachyearAend = present
| coachgamesA = 10
| coachwinsA = 7
| coachdrawsA = 0
| coachlossesA = 3
| coachteam1 = {{nowrap|NQ Cowboys Women}}
| coachyear1start = 2024
| coachyear1end = present
| coachgames1 = 9
| coachwins1 = 4
| coachdraws1 = 0
| coachlosses1 = 5
| source = [https://www.rugbyleagueproject.org/coaches/ricky-henry/summary.html RLP]
| updated = 22 September 2024
}}
Ricky Henry is a New Zealand professional rugby league football coach who is the head coach of the North Queensland Cowboys Women in the NRL Women's Premiership (NRLW) and the New Zealand women's national rugby league team.
He previously worked with the New Zealand Warriors, as an assistant to their NRL team and head coach of their New South Wales Cup team.
Background
Playing career
A Junior Kiwis and New Zealand Māori representative, Henry joined the Auckland Warriors in 1995, spending three years at the club without playing first grade. In 1997, he played in the Warriors' Super League Reserve Grade Grand Final loss to the Canterbury Bulldogs.{{Cite web|url=https://thiswarriorslife.com/2020/03/31/warrior-roo-blog-no-5-1997-super-league-arl-princess-di/|title=Super League, ARL & Princess Di|date=31 March 2020|website=This Warriors Life}}{{Cite web|url=https://leagueunlimited.com/news/nz-residents-coaching-announcement|title=Coaches Appointed and Trials Planned|date=15 July 2011|website=League Unlimited}} In 1998, Henry joined the South Sydney Rabbitohs, playing reserve grade for two seasons.{{Cite web|url=https://www.ssralmanac.com/mobile/1999/player1999.htm|title=1999 South Sydney Player Statistics|date=|website=SSR Almanac}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.rabbitohs.com.au/news/mens-player-statistics|title=South Sydney Rabbitohs Men's Three-Grade Player Statistics|date=|website=South Sydney Rabbitohs}}
Coaching career
=New Zealand Warriors=
From 2008 to 2011, Henry worked in a development coaching role with the New Zealand Warriors, which involved preparing NRL Under-20s players for the NRL. Prior to this he coached the Richmond Rovers in the Auckland Rugby League.{{Cite web|url=https://www.scoop.co.nz/stories/CU1107/S00267/coaches-appointed-and-trials-planned.htm?from-mobile=bottom-link-01|title=Coaches Appointed and Trials Planned|date=15 July 2011|website=Scoop}}
In 2012, he was appointed head coach of the Auckland Vulcans, the Warriors' New South Wales Cup feeder club.{{Cite web|url=https://www.smh.com.au/sport/nrl/vulcans-offer-disgraced-latu-chance-to-shed-bad-boy-tag-back-home-20120310-1ur31.html|title=Vulcans offer disgraced Latu chance|date=11 March 2012|website=Sydney Morning Herald}} Following the season, he was promoted to Warriors' NRL assistant coach under Matthew Elliott. He left the role at the end of the 2014 season following Elliott's departure.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2014/09/14/new-coaches-to-be-named-soon/|title=New coaches to be named soon|date=14 September 2014|website=NZ Warriors}}
In 2016, Henry returned to the Warriors as NSW Cup assistant coach under Stacey Jones. In 2017, he took over from Jones as head coach, taking the side to the preliminary final.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2016/10/11/coaches-confirmed-for-isp-and-nyc-teams/|title=Coaches confirmed for ISP and NYC teams|date=11 October 2016|website=NZ Warriors}} In 2018, he coached the Warriors' Jersey Flegg Cup side.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2017/11/01/vodafone-warriors-boost-coaching-staff/|title=Vodafone Warriors boost coaching staff|date=1 November 2017|website=NZ Warriors}} In 2019, he was again the assistant coach for the NSW Cup side.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2018/11/15/vodafone-warriors-make-key-pathways-appointment/|title=Vodafone Warriors make key pathways appointment|date=15 November 2018|website=NZ Warriors}}
=New Zealand Kiwi Ferns=
On 20 September 2020, Henry was announced as head coach of the New Zealand women's national rugby league team.{{Cite web|url=https://www.warriors.kiwi/news/2020/09/16/henry-appointed-to-coach-kiwi-ferns/|title=Henry appointed to coach Kiwi Ferns|date=15 September 2020|website=NZ Warriors}} On 7 November 2020, he won his first game in charge of the side, a 28–8 win over Fetu Samoa at Mt Smart Stadium.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2020/11/07/rookie-leads-kiwi-ferns-to-win-over-samoa/|title=Rookie leads Kiwi Ferns to win over Samoa|date=7 November 2020|website=NRL}}
In November 2022, Henry led the Kiwi Ferns to the final of the 2021 Women's Rugby League World Cup, which they lost to Australia 54–4.{{Cite web|url=https://www.theguardian.com/sport/2022/nov/19/australia-new-zealand-womens-rugby-league-world-cup-final-match-report|title=Australia retain Women's World Cup|date=19 November 2022|website=The Guardian}}
On 28 October 2023, the Kiwi Ferns defeated Australia 12–6 to win the Pacific Championships. It was their first win over Australia since 2016 and their first major trophy since the 2008 World Cup.{{Cite web|url=https://www.nrl.com/news/2023/10/28/defensive-masterclass-sees-kiwi-ferns-end-their-jillaroos-drought/|title=Defensive masterclass sees Kiwi Ferns end their Jillaroos drought|date=28 October 2023|website=NZRL}}
=North Queensland Cowboys=
On 20 February 2024, Henry was appointed head coach of the North Queensland Cowboys Women's team, signing a three-year contract.{{Cite web|url=https://www.cowboys.com.au/news/2024/02/20/ricky-henry-named-nrlw-head-coach-/|title=Henry named NRLW Head Coach|date=20 February 2024|website=NQ Cowboys}}
References
{{reflist|30em}}
{{Current NRLW head coaches}}
{{DEFAULTSORT:Henry, Ricky}}
Category:New Zealand rugby league coaches
Category:New Zealand rugby league players
Category:New Zealand women's national rugby league team coaches
Category:North Queensland Cowboys (NRLW) coaches