Kangaroos junior Hayden Ashcroft has been unveiled as the club's new captain-coach.
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Ashcroft has returned to Wagga after six years in Sydney and will take the reins of the Group Nine club.
The 22-year-old played a one-off game at Kangaroos this season but has been lured back home permanently to lead the club into the future.
Ashcroft spent five years in the system at Canterbury, where he played in the Bulldogs' under 20, NSW Cup and Ron Massey Cup teams.
He took this year off to travel and spent three months playing with Boston in the USA rugby league competition.
Now he cannot wait to get started as Kangaroos' new captain-coach.
"It's going to be good. Obviously there was a lot to consider but I'm looking forward to it," Ashcroft said.
"I haven't been home for six years now but everyone is still here, my brother's had a kid so it's great to be back around family."
Ashcroft came through the ranks at Kangaroos and made his first grade debut as a teenager at a time when he was also playing seniors for Turvey Park in the Riverina League.
Ashcroft, a lock, wants to return Kangaroos to Group Nine finals but his first goal is to create a more professional environment.
"Finals footy is obviously something I'd like to achieve," he said.
"I've always wanted to (coach), to come back here and teach the junior boys.
"Obviously there has been a bit of a reshuffle at the club and I'm hoping to bring a more professional approach. Kangaroos have a successful junior club and I want to provide an opportunity for the juniors to come through and provide them with a successful and professional culture."
New Kangaroos president Peter Hurst described Ashcroft as the perfect fit for the club.
"Absolutely, he's everything we want in a coach," Hurst said.
"He's young, fit and disciplined. He's worldly, he's wise, he's got his footy structures and he's got his head screwed on his shoulders so he's everything we need as a coach."
Ashcroft replaces Glenn Dumbrell, who has moved to Queensland, after one season back at the club as captain-coach where he led Kangaroos to sixth position.
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