Huddersfield Giants will face a new look London Broncos in the capital on Saturday after team boss Tony Rea quit following his side’s 11-game winless start to the Super League season.
Assistant coach Joe Grima has become the head coach, having been asked to take charge for the rest of this season and next.
“It was always intended Joe would take over as head coach towards the end of this year,” said chairman David Hughes.
“He was highly recommended when he joined us from St George Illawarra Dragons, where he was assistant coach.
“Joe always had an ambition to be a head coach in Super League and will be free to form his own coaching team.”
Rea’s exit follows the departure of chief executive Gus Mackay, who departed after more than three years with the club in late March.
Mackay presided over the club’s move to The Hive this year after leaving The Stoop, which they had shared with rugby union side Harlequins for six years.
The Super League strugglers continue to face financial problems, but the club acknowledge the work Rea played in helping them avert the threat of administration over the winter.
“Tony was instrumental in saving the club,” added Hughes.
“In hindsight, maybe it was far too late, but we did save the club.
“So it’s a big thank you to him for assembling the squad and putting us in a position to go forward.
“We thank Tony of course, not just for the last two seasons, when he came back from Australia to help us out, but for his work with the club in the past, which everyone is aware of.”
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Rea said: “I would rather have stayed on and finished the job this season, but I accept that’s not my call.
“It was always intended that I wouldn’t be here next year and David, more than anyone, felt it was a good time to do it.
Rea was appointed as the club’s head coach for a second time in August 2012, signing a two-year deal after taking over from Rob Powell.
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