English legend Tommy Makinson will move to Australia in 2027, joining an NRL club's coaching staff.
The club he will join is yet to be announced, but he revealed on Sky Sports in England after the final game of his Super League season with the Catalans Dragons that he has work lined up with an NRL club, and it would be announced in due course.
“I'm heading to Australia in November and doing a few bits. That will all come out soon,” Makinson said.
“I'm really proud of what I've got lined up, so I'm really excited. I aren't playing in the NRL, that's for sure! But hopefully I'll be doing some good work down there with some good people over there.. so it should be good.”
Makinson, now 34 years of age, retires from elite rugby league with 386 professional games under his belt, although has never been part of the NRL.
He began his career way back in 2011 at St Helens, playing 348 games for the Saints.
He was at the club until 2024, although had short loan spells in 2013 at Whitehaven and Rochdale.
He moved to Catalans in 2025 where he has played the final two years of his career, racking up another 36 games.
His list of accolades is long, and includes 13 Tests for England, win the Golden Boot award for the best player in the world in 2018, and win every trophy that there was to offer in the English game.
Never playing in the NRL evidently now won't count against him as he begins his post-playing journey, with the Saints legend who played in the 2021 World Cup bringing plenty of experience down under.
The former Super League team of the year player is expected to find a role where he works specifically withoutside backs, having played his entire career at either fullback or wing where he has scored 226 tries across his 386 professional games.
