Jon Sharp
Encyclopedia
Jon Sharp is the current first team coach of Super League club Crusaders Rugby League. Between 2004 and 2008 he was head coach of Huddersfield Giants
, having been appointed in 2003 when Tony Smith left the club for Leeds Rhinos
. He was also part of the Great Britain coaching set-up under head coach Brian Noble
. As a player he played for Hull, and he has also worked as a member of the backroom staff there.
in the semi finals held at Odsal
. Huddersfield lost in the final 42-12 against favourites St Helens.
in which the Giants lost all of their opening 7 games, some might have expected Sharp's job to be under threat. However, the Giants' faith was repaid when Sharp led the team from 5 points adrift at the bottom to being 4th in Super League after, winning a club record 7 along the way including a first win over Bradford
in 35 years. Sharp won consecutive Coach of the Month awards in April and May as a result. The club made their first appearance in the Play Off competition losing to Hull at the KC Stadium, 22-16.
in a voluntary advisory role to caretaker coach Danny Evans.
. However, the partnership didn't work out as Hull slipped to a disappointing 12th place finish, and Sharp left the club at the end of the year.
(Head coach) and assistant coach Iestyn Harris
.
on a consultancy basis as a technical adviser. As a Technical Adviser he will offer a coach's perspective of playing trends to match officials, as well as serving on the Rugby Football League
disciplinary panel.
Huddersfield Giants
Huddersfield Giants are a professional rugby league club from Huddersfield, West Yorkshire who play in the European Super League competition. They play their home games at the Galpharm Stadium which is shared with Huddersfield Town F.C....
, having been appointed in 2003 when Tony Smith left the club for Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
. He was also part of the Great Britain coaching set-up under head coach Brian Noble
Brian Noble (rugby league)
Brian 'Nobby' D. Noble is an English former rugby league footballer. Noble is also the former coach of the Great Britain National Rugby League team. He was also the captain of the 1984 Great Britain touring team to Australia...
. As a player he played for Hull, and he has also worked as a member of the backroom staff there.
2004-2005
In 2004, Sharp's debut season as coach of the Huddersfield Giants the club finished 7th in Super League and made an appearance in the Semi Finals of the Challenge Cup for the first time since 1971. The team lost to St Helens. In 2005 the club signed Michael De Vere from Brisbane Broncoes, the highest profile Australian signer since the 1950s. The team finished in 8th place.2006
in 2006, Sharp led Huddersfield to their first Challenge Cup final in over 40 years, including a 30-12 win over Leeds RhinosLeeds Rhinos
Leeds Rhinos is an English professional rugby league football club based in Leeds, West Yorkshire. The club won the 2011 Super League and became the most successful club in the Super League era, beating St Helens 32-16 on 8th October 2011. Formed in 1890, Leeds competes in Europe's Super League...
in the semi finals held at Odsal
Odsal
Odsal is a village in the metropolitan district of the City of Bradford in West Yorkshire, England. It is situated outside the village of Wibsey. Odsal's main attraction is Odsal Stadium which is the home of the four times Super League champions the Bradford Bulls...
. Huddersfield lost in the final 42-12 against favourites St Helens.
2007
After a nightmare start to Super League XIISuper League XII
Engage Super League XII is the official name for the year 2007's Super League season in the sport of rugby league.The 2007 season kicked off on the weekend of 2 February 2007 at the Galpharm Stadium. For the first time, the league had a staggered start due to the World Club Challenge between St...
in which the Giants lost all of their opening 7 games, some might have expected Sharp's job to be under threat. However, the Giants' faith was repaid when Sharp led the team from 5 points adrift at the bottom to being 4th in Super League after, winning a club record 7 along the way including a first win over Bradford
Bradford Bulls
Bradford Bulls is a professional rugby league club based in the city of Bradford, West Yorkshire, England. They play in the European Super League and are currently joint 10th in the league....
in 35 years. Sharp won consecutive Coach of the Month awards in April and May as a result. The club made their first appearance in the Play Off competition losing to Hull at the KC Stadium, 22-16.
2008
The opening 2 matches in 2008 were lost, to Leeds Rhinos and to Bradford Bulls. However the 3rd match saw Sharp's team beat Castleford Tigers 64-12. After a 48-0 loss to Catalan Dragons and a run of disappointing results, Sharp's contract was terminated by the Giants and for the 2009 season, Nathan Brown, former coach at St. George Illawarra Dragons, took over the helm. He then moved to Featherstone RoversFeatherstone Rovers
Featherstone Rovers are a semi-professional rugby league club, based in Featherstone, West Yorkshire, England. They currently play in the Championship. The Rovers are one of the last vestiges of "small town teams" that were once common in rugby league during the early twentieth century...
in a voluntary advisory role to caretaker coach Danny Evans.
2009
In 2009, Sharp joined his former club Hull as 'football operations manager', working alongside head coach Richard AgarRichard Agar
Richard Agar is a British rugby league football coach and former player. He is the head coach of Super League side Hull. Richard is the son of retired player coach, Allan Agar.Agar played for Featherstone, Dewsbury and Widnes....
. However, the partnership didn't work out as Hull slipped to a disappointing 12th place finish, and Sharp left the club at the end of the year.
2010
In October 2009, Sharp was appointed as first team coach for Crusaders Rugby League, where he will link up with former Great Britain colleague Brian NobleBrian Noble (rugby league)
Brian 'Nobby' D. Noble is an English former rugby league footballer. Noble is also the former coach of the Great Britain National Rugby League team. He was also the captain of the 1984 Great Britain touring team to Australia...
(Head coach) and assistant coach Iestyn Harris
Iestyn Harris
Iestyn Rhys Harris is a Welsh former rugby league footballer, who is currently the assistant coach at Wigan Warriors. Harris is a former Man of Steel winner and has also represented Wales on numerous occasions at both codes of rugby...
.
2011
In February 2011, it was confirmed that Sharp had joined the Rugby Football LeagueRugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
on a consultancy basis as a technical adviser. As a Technical Adviser he will offer a coach's perspective of playing trends to match officials, as well as serving on the Rugby Football League
Rugby Football League
The Rugby Football League is the governing body for professional rugby league football in England. Based at Red Hall in Leeds, it administers the England national rugby league team, the Challenge Cup, Super League and the Rugby League Championships...
disciplinary panel.