Nathan Brown has coached the Warriors for the last time, with the separation of the coach and the club taking effect immediately.
Brown’s future has been the subject of growing speculation in recent weeks, with the Warriors finishing 14th on the ladder with just four wins in 13 games.
They have lost seven of their last eight games, conceded 70 points to the Melbourne Storm in the seventh round and fell 44-12 to a non-Manly weekend.
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Assistant coach Stacey Jones will take over for the rest of the season, with the club now looking for a permanent replacement.
Tonga coach Kristian Woolf, who has had a successful run in the UK Super League, has been reported as a favorite.
On Monday night, Nine’s Danny Weidler reported that Brown had informed Warriors officials that he could not commit to living in New Zealand. The club will return home next month after being established in Australia since the pandemic hit 2020.
“Nathan told us he had made a personal decision that for family reasons he could not move to New Zealand as originally planned in the long term,” club head Cameron George said.
“We fully appreciate his position and the call he has made.
Nathan Brown has left as coach of the Warriors. (NRL)
“Given these circumstances, we agreed that an immediate change was needed.”
Brown was 18 months on a three-year contract and was hired until the end of the 2023 season.
“It’s hard for everyone involved, but for the best interest of the club, we felt we had to go in a different direction now,” George said.
“Nathan has worked hard for our club and we are very disappointed to have come to this. We are really grateful for what he has done and wish him and his family all the best for the future.”
Brown’s departure comes just weeks after leader Matt Lodge asked for it and he was granted immediate release. Lodge also said his family would not commit to long-term living in New Zealand.
Brown is the second NRL coach to fall on his sword in the space of a month, following Trent Barrett’s decision to step down as coach of the Bulldogs.
The Warriors play the Sharks on Sunday.
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