Hornets coaching staff confirmed for 2026 season

Rochdale Hornets' backroom team has been confirmed ahead of the 2026 season.

The new campaign will be Gary Thornton's fourth as head coach. 

He will be assisted by Ryan Jackson, who arrived at the club midway through last season to lend his support to Thornton in an unofficial capacity. 

Jackson had previously served as Hunslet assistant coach for four-and-a-half years and played a key role in the club's promotion to the Betfred Championship before leaving the Parksiders at the end of March. 

Anthony Thewliss will also continue to serve as assistant to Thornton, having done so for the last three seasons. 

Simon Reynolds has been appointed to the role of team manager following the departure of Dave Ramsbottom after 15 years of service to the Hornets.

Reynolds began his coaching journey at Leigh East, where he transitioned from player to coach. 

He joined the North Wales Crusaders coaching setup more than six-and-a-half years ago and served under two different head coaches - Anthony Murray and Carl Forster.

A hugely respected figure within the game, we are delighted to welcome Reynolds to the club for 2026 and beyond. 

Following the departure of previous medical lead Hayley Price, we are pleased to welcome Lyndsey Watkins as her replacement. 

Watkins has held a similar role at a number of clubs within the professional game, including Swinton Lions, Widnes Vikings and more recently Keighley Cougars. 

Completing the list of new additions to the Hornets backroom team for the 2026 season is Danny Lee, who arrives as strength and conditioning coach.

He previously held the same role at Dewsbury Rams for 18 months, joining the club in June 2024. 

Cutting his teeth as a player in rugby league's amateur game for more than two decades, Lee also held a coaching position within the Bradford Bulls Foundation before making the move to Dewsbury.

We wish all of the additions to the club's backroom team the very best as they get stuck into their new roles.