Brad Singleton Appointed Workington Town Head Coach Workington 2026

Key Points

• Head Coaching Debut: Two-time Super League Grand Final winner Brad Singleton has been appointed as the new head coach of Betfred Championship side Workington Town, marking his first managerial role.
• Retirement Decision: The 33-year-old prop forward will officially hang up his playing boots at the conclusion of the 2026 season to take up the coaching position starting from the 2027 campaign.
• Current Playing Status: Singleton is presently playing in the Betfred Championship for his hometown club, Barrow Raiders, having joined them in May 2026 following his release from Castleford Tigers.
• Backroom Transition: At Workington Town, Singleton will take over from incumbent head coach Jonty Gorley, who is transitioning into the role of Director of Rugby at the Cumbrian club.
• Decorated Playing Career: Singleton boasts six major honours across a 15-year professional playing career, including two Super League Grand Finals, two Challenge Cups, and two League Leaders’ Shields, primarily across stints with Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Salford Red Devils, and Castleford Tigers.
• Commitment to Barrow: Both Singleton and Barrow Raiders officials have confirmed he remains entirely committed to helping the Raiders pursue a successful end to their current 2026 campaign before making the coaching transition.

Leeds Rhinos (The Leeds Times) July 28, 2026 – Former Leeds Rhinos treble-winner and Super League veteran Brad Singleton has officially landed his first senior coaching appointment, agreeing to take charge of Betfred Championship outfit Workington Town. The surprise appointment comes just two months after the 33-year-old prop forward was granted an immediate release from Super League side Castleford Tigers to join his hometown team, Barrow Raiders. Singleton will retire from playing at the conclusion of the 2026 season before formally assuming control of Workington ahead of the 2027 campaign.

The Cumbrian club announced the landmark agreement on Monday evening, confirming that current Workington Town head coach Jonty Gorley will move upstairs into a Director of Rugby role to accommodate Singleton’s arrival.

As reported by Callum Walker of Total Rugby League and Drew Darbyshire of Love Rugby League, the move represents a major coup for the Championship side, bringing one of the game’s most decorated modern forwards into the coaching ranks.

Singleton boasts over 300 senior appearances and six major domestic titles on his CV, having represented top-flight clubs including Leeds Rhinos, Wigan Warriors, Salford Red Devils, and Castleford Tigers, as well as international caps for Ireland.

What Did Brad Singleton Say About Taking The Workington Town Job?

Addressing his upcoming appointment, Brad Singleton expressed genuine gratitude for the opportunity to step directly into a head coaching role while acknowledging the proactive approach taken by the Workington Town hierarchy.

As reported by Drew Darbyshire of Love Rugby League, Singleton stated:

“I’m very grateful. At this current moment, I’m still playing for Barrow and I’m proudly doing that, I want to finish that right. But it was time for me to think, ‘what’s next’?”

The former Grand Final winner explained that while he possessed the physical conditioning to extend his playing days, the prospective shift into full-time management proved too compelling to turn down. As quoted by Drew Darbyshire of Love Rugby League, Singleton added:

“I could probably have squeezed another year out (playing), but I think what excites me more is coaching and Workington have been very proactive getting in touch. It’s a great position to be in and I’m looking forward to it.”

Furthermore, as reported by John Fuller of the Carlisle News & Star, Gary McKeating of the Workington Town board introduced Singleton to supporters, sponsors, and media representatives by hailing the incoming boss as a genuine “legend of the game” whose top-tier elite standard will transform the club’s setup.

How Have Barrow Raiders Reacted To Singleton’s Departure Announcement?

Following the public confirmation of Workington’s managerial deal, Barrow Raiders issued an official club statement outlining their stance on Singleton’s decision to move into coaching.

As reported by James Messenger via the official Barrow Raiders Media platform, the club stated:

“As announced last night, Barrow Raiders forward Brad Singleton will hang up his boots at the end of the 2026 season, in order to take up an opportunity as head coach of Workington Town. Brad recently informed us of his decision to move on at the end of the year, and as a club we fully respect his decision to look ahead to his post-playing career.”

The Raiders board emphasized that the veteran forward remains fully focused on driving Barrow toward success in the current Betfred Championship campaign. As written by James Messenger for Barrow Raiders Media, the statement continued:

“During those discussions, Brad reaffirmed his commitment to helping Barrow Raiders enjoy a successful end to the year as we continue to challenge at the top end of the Betfred Championship. Brad remains a key member of our forward pack, having joined the club last month, and with news of his new coaching role out in the public domain, we are confident that his full focus will now be on having a successful end to the season with his hometown club.”

How Did Brad Singleton’s Playing Career Progress From Leeds To Barrow?

Brad Singleton’s journey to coaching is underpinned by fifteen years at the highest levels of professional rugby league. Born in Barrow-in-Furness in October 1992, Singleton developed through the junior ranks at Barrow Island ARLFC before joining the prestigious youth academy at Leeds Rhinos.

Singleton made his senior debut for Leeds Rhinos in March 2011 against Salford. Following brief development loan spells at Dewsbury Rams, Wakefield Trinity, and Hunslet Hawks, he established himself as an indispensable pillar of the Rhinos forward pack.

His standout campaign arrived in 2015, where he made 34 appearances and played a major role in Leeds’ historic “Treble” season—winning the Challenge Cup at Wembley, securing the League Leaders’ Shield, and defeating Wigan Warriors in the Super League Grand Final at Old Trafford.

He added a second Grand Final ring in 2017, starting in Leeds’ 24–6 victory over Castleford Tigers. By the time he departed Headingley at the end of 2019, Singleton had accumulated 178 appearances and 20 tries for the Rhinos.

Toronto Wolfpack and Wigan Warriors (2020–2023)

In late 2019, Singleton signed a three-year contract with newly promoted transatlantic outfit Toronto Wolfpack.

However, after just four appearances, the COVID-19 pandemic caused Toronto’s withdrawal from the competition, leaving players to seek emergency transfers.

In September 2020, Wigan Warriors secured Singleton’s signature. During his time at Wigan, he helped the Cherry and Whites secure the 2020 League Leaders’ Shield and featured in the 2020 Grand Final loss to St Helens.

In May 2022, he collected his second Challenge Cup winner’s medal as Wigan defeated Huddersfield Giants 16–14 at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium.

Salford Red Devils, Castleford Tigers, and Homecoming (2023–2026)

In July 2023, Singleton joined Salford Red Devils as part of a high-profile mid-season swap deal involving Tyler Dupree. After making 31 appearances for Salford, he moved to Castleford Tigers in March 2025, playing 21 matches across the 2025 Super League season.

In May 2026, Singleton negotiated an immediate release from Castleford to sign for his hometown club, Barrow Raiders, bringing his career full circle in Cumbria before agreeing to lead Workington Town into a new era.

What Does Singleton’s Appointment Mean For Workington Town’s Future?

Workington Town’s strategic restructuring represents a long-term plan to re-establish the club as a major power within Cumbrian rugby league.

By transitioning current head coach Jonty Gorley into the Director of Rugby position, the board has created a structure where Gorley can focus on talent recruitment and administrative operations while Singleton takes charge of squad tactics, performance, and matchday preparation.

As noted by Rugby League commentator and journalist Lorraine Marsden in Total Rugby League, Cumbrian clubs have increasingly prioritized local leadership with proven top-flight standards.

Singleton’s wealth of knowledge from working under elite coaches such as Brian McDermott at Leeds and Shaun Wane’s structures at Wigan provides Workington with a tactical foundation rare for the Championship level.

With Workington competing fiercely in the second tier and Barrow currently pursuing playoff ambitions, Singleton’s final months as a player will see him battle the very opponents he is set to direct in 2027.

His transition from the pitch directly to the coaching gantry stands as one of the most intriguing developments in non-Super League rugby league for the upcoming season.