FIVE NRL players who could be coaches in the future

Some NRL players have great playing careers, while others have incredible coaching resumes.

It's difficult to determine which is more rewarding, but very few men cross the threshold of a successful NRL and head coaching career.

While many footballers excel due to their freakish athleticism and natural abilities, others simply have a knack for the game, with a blueprint to success that could hand them a handy coaching gig post-retirement.

Nathan Cleary (Penrith Panthers)

Nathan Cleary is known by many names; The Prince of Penrith, The Ice Man, The Goat. His list of titles is seemingly endless, however, one name we can see the Panthers' halfback possessing after his career is Coach Cleary.

Cleary is already a legend of the game at just 27 years old.

The four-time premiership winner has mastered rugby league in a way only a few have, and there is no doubt he will continue to dominate until he retires.

However, it is possible his domination would be prolonged if he were to assume the role of a coach, a position his father and Panthers' boss Ivan Cleary would certainly have prepared him for.

The Penrith Panthers co-captain's ability to execute every gameplan to perfection is second to none, an attribute that some head coaches struggle to showcase.

Cleary's cool-headed demeanor is contagious on the field, with his teammates often feeding off their halfback's ability to slow down intense in-game situations.

With another decade of NRL experience under his belt, Cleary could potentially be an elite head coach within five years of his retirement.

Harry Grant (Melbourne Storm)

Perhaps one of the most humble and down-to-earth figures in the NRL, Harry Grant is a guy who lets his actions do most of his talking.

This is a skill not many players in the league possess, but Grant's ability to lead a side by example is a unique characteristic that would surely make him a stellar coach post-retirement.

The Melbourne Storm have birthed many great leaders: Cameron Smith, Dale Finucane, and Billy Slater.

It's genuinely astonishing how a club can mould such incredible talents into inspiring skippers, with Harry Grant's rise to captaincy contributing to that sentiment.

Grant gets through a mountain of work every week, shouldering the load for a Storm side that has no shortage of elite troops.

It would be easy for a hard-nosed hooker to get lost in that sea of stars, but Grant's ability to rise above the pack through grit and determination highlights his impact as a leader of this side.

Grant has only just entered his second season as the Storm's captain, but with a decade or so left in his already impressive career, there is no doubt his growth as a leader under Craig Bellamy would equate to a successful career as an NRL coach once he's hung up the boots.

Daly Cherry Evans (Manly Sea Eagles)

Daly Cherry-Evans is not only one of the greatest talents to don the Manly Sea Eagles jumper, but one of the best leaders as well.

Entering 2025 as Manly's skipper for the ninth consecutive season, 'DCE' is a clear-cut choice for the next NRL player-turned-coach.

He is one of the oldest and most experienced players in the competition, representing his club, state, and country.

The Queensland Maroons skipper has led on all stages, possessing an extremely high rugby league IQ that has seen Cherry-Evans age like fine wine in his later years.

His ability to mould his game around his body's capacity to compete showcases just how brilliant his vision is, an essential quality in an elite head coach.

Cherry-Evans is perhaps the most obvious player to be featured on this list, as he is simply one of the most well-spoken and cool-headed leaders the NRL has ever produced, period.

We can see him moving into a head coaching role as he sets up for his life post-footy, mimicking the cool-headed coaching styles of Ivan Cleary and Wayne Bennett.

Jake Trbojevic (Manly Sea Eagles)

Another Manly man and current skipper of the New South Wales Blues, Jake Trbojevic, has showcased all the signs of a classic player's coach.

Known as one of the NRL's nicest and most well-respected players, 'Jurbo' would make an excellent head coach, as he is a guy just about anyone would run through a brick wall for.

Jake Trbojevic is the epitome of passion, a wrecking ball who is willing to swing through any defence in the hopes of lifting his side.

While many of the players on this list are cool, calm, and collected, Trbojevic is none of those things.

However, what he lacks in composure he more than doubles in grit and determination, qualities that earned him the Blues captaincy and helped lead them to a State of Origin win just last year.

In the Blues' series win, 'Jurbo' showed doubters that it isn't his on-field play that makes him a good leader, but his locker room presence and ability to bring the best out of the stars around him.

His hunger is what will make him an excellent coach one day, displaying a similar coaching presence to former Blues coaches, Michael Maguire and Craig Bellamy.

Adam Reynolds (Brisbane Broncos)

One of the greatest halfbacks of the NRL era, Adam Reynolds, could coach a side tomorrow if he wanted.

As he inches closer and closer to the NRL's all-time points scoring record, what he could achieve post-footy could be even more impressive.

A natural-born leader, Reynolds has led every side he's played for. Regardless of whether or not he has a 'C' next to his name on the team sheet, Adam Reynolds seems to have his head in every play his squad puts together.

His excellent off-ball direction and strategic game management, which he seems to execute to perfection every time, are why his teammates and coaches trust him in high-intensity situations.

Adam Reynolds is a shoo-in for a head coaching role when his time comes, and it can be argued that he could be an even better coach than player when it's all said and done, due to his extensive footy knowledge and ability to bring out the peak of every player who runs alongside him.