Wagga Tigers coach Shaun Campbell to stand down at season's end

Campbell’s third season in charge at Tigers was always likely to be his last and it is now official after he informed the playing group last week.

“Three years is probably enough for me up here,” Campbell said.

“It’s the right time, I didn’t think I would be here for three years at the start but I’ve really enjoyed it.

“I’ve definitely got more aspirations to play at a higher level and I’ve probably got two or three years left of good footy in me and I want to challenge myself a bit more.

“I might coach or assist somewhere else. I love coaching and everything about footy.”

Campbell took Tigers to a premiership in his first season as coach in 2016.

Since then the club had slid down the ladder amid heavy player departures in the past two off-seasons.

Campbell is proud of what he has achieved at the club and has enjoyed the coaching experience.

“Absolutely, I wish we could have kept the group together from 2016. That would have been good but it wasn’t to be,” he said.

“I’m really happy I’ve experienced both at the top and bottom. It will help me going forward as a coach, having experienced both the ups and downs.”

Tigers only lost the one game on the way to the 2016 premiership. Last season, they missed finals after winning seven games to finish sixth.

After 10 rounds this year, Tigers have just the one win and sit in eighth spot.

Campbell said the goal is simple for his remaining eight games at Tigerland.

“Just to have a bit of fun with the young group we’ve got,” he said

“I just want us to enjoy our footy. I love running around with them and coaching them, hopefully we can get a few more wins on the board and have a bit of fun at the back end.”

Campbell is yet to decide on his playing future but is keen to return to Melbourne.

Wagga Tigers president Anthony Lyons said the club wish Campbell all the best in his future endeavours.

“It will be difficult to find a replacement for Shaun as we feel he’s the best on-field leader in the Riverina,” Lyons said.

The club is already in the process of speaking to potential replacements.

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