rlhttp://www.saintsrlfc.com/news/2698rl

Thoughts? anyone know a great deal about him?

The current assistant coach to Tim Sheens at West Tigers and Australia.

His name is pretty cool

Never heard of him.

Thought they might of been trying what Wigan have by giving a young assistant coach a chance but this guy is 50.

About the right age for an experienced coach

did he used to play for or coach Hull FC?

He coached Hull for two years and apparently was complete bollox. That opinion is not because I remember him but is based on what just about everyone who does, says. Hopefully his years in Australia, including the seven under Sheens and the 18 months as assistant to the Kangaroos, will have turned him into a good coach. Time will tell!

Fat hooker from the early 90's who played for Hull? Coached Penrith?

Is the fact that Aussie cricketer (and massive RL fan) Andrew Symonds' nickname is 'Roy' anything to do with this bloke?

Does Royce make rolls?

You'd think it would be a mandatory requirement what with him coaching Keiron Cunningham.

I think you will find that Keiron retires after this season.

Last time I remember hearing about Royce Simmons was nine years ago when he was getting a heck of a lot of stick at the end of his time at Penrith. One of the main points which grated with the fans was that Simmons had let Brad Drew go to their rivals Parramatta, and Drew was in the form of his life with Parra at the top of the league, while Penrith were picking up the wooden spoon, so their fans turned on him. They had quite a strong team with Craig Gower, Ryan Girdler, Mat Adamson, Scott Sattler, Frank and Tony Puletua and a young Rhys Wesser, so it was hard for the fans to stomach the wooden spoon. Their top scorer at the time was a 24 year old Chris Hicks who was probably the fastest player in the NRL at the time.

At the end of that season we signed Sid Domic and Mat Rodwell from them, Simmons got sacked, John Lang came in and in two years time had them winning the Grand Final.

The general view I remember at the time from the Aussie press and reading NRL forums was that Simmons was viewed at Penrith a bit like Cullen was for us - couldn't doubt his commitment as a clubman but by the end of his time most of his fans had lost patience.

I'm surprised he's gone to Saints and this would have been unheard of a couple of years ago. I remember his name being banded around in some of the league papers as a possible replacement for DVDV at Warrington which caused great mirth from other clubs fans, the idea of w*nky Warrington about to pick up the wooden spoon coach from the NRL went down well.

i think your getting him mixed up with roy cropper...