Trent Robinson

Trent Robinson

Personal information
Full name	Trent Robinson
Born	(1977-03-15) 15 March 1977 (age 47) Sydney, New South Wales, Australia
Playing information
Position	Lock, Prop, Second-row
Club Years Team Pld T G FG P 2000–01 Wests Tigers 3 0 0 0 0 2002 Parramatta Eels 1 0 0 0 0 Total 4 0 0 0 0
Coaching information
Club Years Team Gms W D L W% 2005–06 Toulouse Olympique 2011–12 Catalans Dragons 63 37 1 25 59 2013– Sydney Roosters 291 183 0 108 63 Total 354 220 1 133 62
Source: [1] [2] As of 18 April 2024

Trent Robinson (born 15 March 1977 ^[3] ) is an Australian professional rugby league coach who is the head coach of the Sydney Roosters in the National Rugby League (NRL) and a former professional rugby league footballer.

He has previously held coaching positions at Toulouse Olympique in the Elite One Championship and the Newcastle Knights in the NRL and was the head coach at the Catalans Dragons in the Super League. As a player he made appearances as a prop and lock for the Wests Tigers and the Parramatta Eels in the NRL and Toulouse in the Elite One Championship.

Background

Robinson was born in Camden, a suburb located in Greater Sydney, New South Wales, Australia. He attended St Gregory’s College, Campbelltown where he excelled academically and played rugby league.

Playing career

A former student at St Gregory's College, Campbelltown, ^[4] Robinson started his playing days in the Sydney Roosters pathways in the Jersey Flegg and President's Cup as an up-and-coming front rower.

In the top grade, Robinson played three games from the bench for the Wests Tigers between 2000 and 2001. He was the first player to ever make his first-grade debut with Wests Tigers without having previously played first-grade with another team. In 2002, he joined the Brian Smith-coached Parramatta Eels, playing in a solitary game.

He moved to Europe in 2005 where he played with Toulouse Olympique before he took over as Head Coach of the side at the age of just 28.

Coaching career

Toulouse Olympique

After a playing stint with Toulouse Olympique, Robinson, then aged just 28, succeeded Justin Morgan as coach in 2005. ^[5]

His side became the first French team to reach the semi-finals of the Challenge Cup.

Newcastle Knights

He was an assistant coach with the Newcastle Knights for three seasons (2007-2009) before seeking a release to join Brian Smith at the Sydney Roosters.

Sydney Roosters (Assistant Coach)

Robinson joined the Roosters in 2010 as an NRL Assistant Coach. He oversaw the team’s defence and in an incredible turnaround, the Club finished the year as runners-up in the NRL Grand Final, after placing last in the competition in 2009.

Catalans Dragons

At the conclusion of the 2010 Super League season, the French-speaking Robinson took over from Kevin Walters as coach at Catalans Dragons. ^[6] He held this position until the end of 2012.

In his first season with the Dragons, Robinson took the side from last to sixth and was named ‘Super League Coach of the Year’ with his side making two consecutive Preliminary Finals.

Sydney Roosters

Robinson is currently the longest-serving Head Coach in the Foundation Club’s 116-year history and has led his side to the Finals in all but one season (2016).

On 7 September 2012, it was announced that Robinson had been appointed as head coach of the Sydney Roosters on a three-year contract, commencing in 2013. ^[7]

He led the Sydney Roosters to Premiership success in his maiden season as an NRL Head Coach. In a memorable year, he became only the second rookie NRL coach to claim a Minor Premiership and became the youngest-ever recipient of the Dally M Award for Coach of the Year. ^[8]

He capped this historic season by leading the Roosters to the Club’s 13th Premiership, becoming only the sixth rookie coach Premiership winner. ^[9]

At the end of the 2013 season he received the Rugby League International Federation’s Coach of the Year award. In early 2014, the Sydney Roosters were also crowned World Club Champions after defeating Super League Champions Wigan in the annual World Club Challenge.

The Sydney Roosters also claimed successive Minor Premierships and Club Championships under Robinson's tenure and qualified for the Preliminary Final in 2014. In 2015, the Sydney Roosters became the first team to claim a third consecutive Minor Premiership in the modern era, with the side also qualifying for the Preliminary Final. While injuries and suspension impacted the Club’s 2016 campaign, the Sydney Roosters were crowned champions at the 2017 NRL Auckland Nines and rounded out their campaign with a preliminary finals appearance.

In 2018, Robinson’s Sydney Roosters claimed their 14th Premiership, in a grand final dubbed a “coaching masterclass”. ^[10] In his sixth season at the helm of the Club, the Roosters also secured a record 20th Minor Premiership.

In 2019, Robinson led the Sydney Roosters to the Club’s 15th Premiership, and became the first coach to win back-to-back Premierships in a unified competition since 1992-93. ^{[11] [12] [13]}

After claiming the Club’s 15th Premiership in 2019, the Sydney Roosters kicked off their 2020 campaign by being crowned World Club Champions for the second successive year. In the coronavirus-impacted 2020 season, Robinson was a member of the NRL’s Project Apollo working group which worked on ensuring the resumption of the competition after it was halted for two months as a consequence of the worldwide pandemic. Despite a season impacted by an unprecedented injury toll, early retirements and suspension, the Roosters completed the 2021 regular season in fifth position. The club’s campaign ended in the second week of finals, but Robinson was recognised for his outstanding coaching efforts throughout the season by being named a Dally M Coach of the Year finalist. ^[14]

He made history in 2022 when he became the first person to coach 250 first-grade games in Roosters’ history. He was again named a finalist for the Dally M Coach of the Year for his coaching resolve and leadership which saw his side go on an eight-match winning streak to finish the regular season in sixth place on the ladder and qualify for the Finals Series. ^[15]

In the Roosters’ first full season at the new Sydney Football Stadium, 2023 saw Robinson’s Sydney Roosters go on a surge in the back end of the season to qualify for the Finals in seventh spot. With only a few rounds remaining it appeared the club would miss the finals, however they would go on a five-game winning run to secure their position in the Top 8. In the elimination final against Cronulla, the club pulled off a 13-12 upset victory. The following week, the Sydney Roosters went in as outsiders against Melbourne and with 10 minutes remaining lead the match 13-12 before Melbourne scored a try with two minutes remaining to knock the Sydney Roosters out of the finals race. ^[16]

Coaching Honours

Team - Sydney Roosters

• NRL Premiership: 2013, 2018, 2019
• NRL Minor Premiership: 2013, 2014, 2015, 2018
• World Club Challenge: 2014, 2019, 2020
• NRL Nines: 2017

Individual

• Super League Coach of the Year: 2011
• Dally M Coach of the Year: 2013
• Rugby League International Federation Coach of the Year: 2013

Statistics

Coaching results by season
Team	Season	Games	Wins	Draws	Losses	Win %	Season result
	2011	29	16	1	12	55	Lost 2011 Super League Preliminary Semi-Final v Wigan Warriors 0—44
	2012	29	18	0	11	62	Lost 2012 Super League Preliminary Semi-Final v Leeds Rhinos 20—27
Catalans Dragons		58	34	1	23	59	―
	2013	27	21	0	6	78	Won 2013 NRL Grand Final v Manly Warringah Sea Eagles 26—18
	2014	27	17	0	10	63	Lost 2014 NRL Preliminary Final v South Sydney Rabbitohs 22—32
	2015	27	19	0	8	70	Lost 2015 NRL Preliminary Final v Brisbane Broncos 12—31
	2016	24	6	0	18	25	Finished the 2016 NRL season in 15th position out of 16
	2017	26	18	0	8	69	Lost 2017 NRL Preliminary Final v North Queensland Cowboys 16—29
	2018	27	19	0	8	70	Won 2018 NRL Grand Final v Melbourne Storm 21—6
	2019	27	20	0	7	74	Won 2019 NRL Grand Final v Canberra Raiders 14—8
	2020	22	14	0	8	64	Lost 2020 NRL Semi-Final v Canberra Raiders 18—22
	2021	26	17	0	9	65	Lost 2021 NRL Semi-Final v Manly Sea Eagles 6—42
	2022	25	15	0	10	60	Lost 2022 NRL Semi Final v South Sydney Rabbits 14-30
	2023	26	14	0	12	54	Lost 2023 NRL Semi-Final v Melbourne Storm 13—18
Sydney Roosters		284	180	0	104	63	―
Career		342	214	1	127	63	Statistics correct as of 24 Dec 2023

References

1. "Trent Robinson". Rugby League Project. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
2. "Trent Robinson". Rugby League Project. 29 July 2020. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
3. "Trent Robinson". Sydney Roosters. 4 June 2023. Retrieved 4 June 2023.
4. Bertola, Vera (2 March 2005). "St Gregory's College Intouch magazine, July 2008". Macarthur Chronicle. News Corp Australia. Archived from the original on 6 July 2011. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
5. "Catalans Dragons appoint Australian Trent Robinson as new coach". The Daily Telegraph . 1 July 2010. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
6. Walter, Brad (8 September 2010). "Paea heads to France with Robinson". The Sydney Morning Herald . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
7. "TRENT ROBINSON TO COACH THE ROOSTERS". roosters.com.au. 7 September 2012. Archived from the original on 9 September 2012. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
8. Horne, Ben (1 October 2013). "Robinson wins Dally M coach prize". wwos.ninemsn.com.au. Australian Associated Press. Archived from the original on 6 October 2013. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
9. Lord, David (6 October 2013). "Storming Grand Final effort proves SBW is the main man". The Roar .
10. Chammas, Michael (30 September 2018). "Cronk, Keary guide Roosters to grand final glory". National Rugby League . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
11. Bungard, Matt; Ward, Roy (6 October 2019). "NRL grand final player ratings: Roosters and Raiders hits and misses". The Sydney Morning Herald. Nine Entertainment Co. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
12. "Sydney Roosters beat Canberra Raiders to win NRL Grand Final". BBC Sport . 6 October 2019. Retrieved 31 July 2020.
13. Elbra, Tim (6 October 2019). "How Ricky Stuart reacted to grand final 'six-again' refereeing shocker". wwos.nine.com.au. Nine Digital . Retrieved 31 July 2020.
14. "Roosters' 'Mr Fix It' stuns with hat-trick, Sloppy Raiders' final fade out ends season: 3 Big Hits". www.foxsports.com.au. 2 September 2021.
15. "'Go watch UFC': NRL under fire over finals chaos as big problem with sin bin 'lottery' emerges". www.foxsports.com.au.
16. "NRL 2023: Sydney Roosters season review". www.sportingnews.com.

External links

• Sydney Roosters profile

Sporting positions
Preceded by Brian Smith 2010–2012	Head Coach Sydney Roosters 2013–present	Succeeded by Incumbent