Personal information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Full name | Joshua Hannay | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Born | (1980-01-11)11 January 1980 (age 46) Moranbah, Queensland, Australia | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Height | 188 cm (6 ft 2 in) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Weight | 98 kg (15 st 6 lb) | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Playing information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Position | Centre, Wing, Five-eighth | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Coaching information | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Source:[1] As of 18 June 2021 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Josh Hannay (born 11 January 1980) is an Australian professionalrugby league head coach for theGold Coast Titans previously he was an assistant coach of theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks in theNRL and assistant coach of theQueensland rugby league team. He is also a former professionalrugby league footballer who played as acentre in the 1990s and 2000s.
AQueenslandState of Origin representative, Hannay spent nine seasons with theNorth Queensland Cowboys and was the club's highest point scorer until 2011. He later had stints with theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks andCeltic Crusaders, before moving into coaching.
He served as the interim head coach of theNorth Queensland Cowboys in 2020 and theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks in 2021.
Born and raised inMoranbah, Queensland, Hannay played his junior rugby league for the Moranbah Miners before being signed by theNorth Queensland Cowboys at 15. InTownsville, he attendedTownsville Grammar School.[2][3][4]
In Round 15 of the1996 ARL season, Cowboys' head coachGraham Lowe named Hannay to make his first grade debut against theWestern Suburbs Magpies. At 16 years and 185 days old, Hannay would have been the second youngest player to debut in Australian history afterRay Stehr, who debuted at 16 years and 85 days in 1929. The selection was ultimately blocked by theAustralian Rugby League (ARL), as Hannay (who was born in 1980), had to turn 17 the year he debuted to be eligible.[5]
In Round 3 of the1998 NRL season, almost two years after his vetoed debut, the now 18-year old Hannay made his NRL debut in the Cowboys' 16–15 win over theParramatta Eels, scoring a try. In Round 23, he scored his first NRL hat-trick in a 12–28 loss to theManly Warringah Sea Eagles. In his rookie season for the club, he played 21 games, starting at eithercentre orwing, scoring 15 tries, 29 goals and 118 points to finish as the side's top try and point scorer. In 1999, despite playing just 13 games due to injuries, he represented theJunior Kangaroos alongside his Cowboys teammateScott Prince.[6]
Over the next two seasons, Hannay was further plagued by injuries, playing only 17 games, including just five in2000. In 2002, he played his first full season in four years, starting in 19 games for the Cowboys and finishing as their top point scorer.[citation needed]
In 2003, Hannay enjoyed a breakout season, playing 23 games and scoring 230 points, second in the NRL only toHazem El Masri's 294. On 16 July 2003, he made hisState of Origin debut forQueensland, starting atcentre and kicking four goals in a 36–6 Game III win overNew South Wales atSuncorp Stadium.[7] In Round 23 of the2003 season, Hannay set the record for most points (24) and most goals (10) in a single game for the Cowboys in their 60–8 win over theSouth Sydney Rabbitohs. As of 2020, his 10-goal record still stands, whileJohnathan Thurston later equalled his points record in 2006.
In 2004, Hannay started atcentre in all 27 games for the Cowboys as they qualified for the finals for the first time in their history. He scored 228 points that season, finishing second again in the top point scorers list to El Masri, who scored 342. In 2005, he started atcentre in the Cowboys' maidenNRL Grand Final appearance, a 16–30 loss to theWests Tigers.[8]
In 2006, Hannay fell out of favour at the Cowboys, playing just nine games. In July, he was told by the club he would not be re-signed when his contract ended that season.[9] Despite this, Hannay earned a recall to theQueensland side, starting at centre in their series-deciding 16–14 win over New South Wales at theTelstra Dome inMelbourne.[10] On 26 July 2006, he signed a two-year deal with theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks.[11]
In Round 1 of the2007 NRL season, Hannay made his debut for the Sharks in an 18–0 win over thePenrith Panthers. He would play just two more games before being dropped toNSW Cup by head coachRicky Stuart. In June 2007, he was dropped from the Sharks' NSW Cup side and began playing for theGymea Gorillas in the localCronulla-Sutherland District competition before being granted a release by the club.[12]
In August 2007, Hannay signed theCeltic Crusaders, who were playing in theNational League Two, helping them to promotion to theNational League One.[13][14] In 2008, he was a member of the Crusaders' side who lost toSalford City in the National League One Grand Final. Despite losing the Grand Final, the Crusaders finished second and earned promotion to theSuper League for the first time. In 2009, he played 17 Super League games for the Crusaders, finishing as the club's top point scorer.
Hannay did not get to finish the season, as he, along with Australian teammatesJace Van Dijk,Tony Duggan,Damien Quin,Darren Mapp andMark Dalle Cort were deported after theUK Border Agency ruled they breached visa regulations.[15] Hannay was banned from entering theUnited Kingdom for 10 years and his Crusaders' contract was cancelled with immediate effect.[16][17]
In November 2009, Hannay returned toAustralia, joining theMackay Cutters in theQueensland Cup for the 2010 season.[18]
In 2011, he returned to Moranbah to play for his junior club, the Moranbah Miners, in the Mackay and Districts A-Grade competition. In 2012, hecaptain-coached the club to premiership success in the competition. In 2013, he retired from playing and solely focused on coaching the Miners.[19][20]
On 9 October 2013, Hannay was appointed head coach of theSouths Logan Magpies in theQueensland Cup for the2014 season.[21] Over three seasons with the club, Hannay's highest place finish with the Magpies was 7th in 2016, missing the finals on points differential. He coached 70 games, winning 28, for a 40% winning percentage. In 2016 and 2017, he coached theQueensland under-18 rugby league team, losing both games to New South Wales.[22][23]
In 2017, he returned to theNorth Queensland Cowboys as an assistant coach toPaul Green.[24] In his first season on the coaching staff, the Cowboys qualified for theNRL Grand Final, losing to theMelbourne Storm.[25] In 2018, he joined theQueensland coaching staff as an assistant toKevin Walters, spending just one year in the role.[26][27]
On 20 July 2020, Hannay was named as the interim head coach of theNorth Queensland Cowboys following the resignation ofPaul Green.[28] In Round 17 of the2020 NRL season, after five straight losses, Hannay earned his first win as an NRL head coach after the Cowboys defeated theSt George Illawarra Dragons 23–22 ingolden point.[29] On 22 September 2020, after being overlooked as full-time head coach of the Cowboys, Hannay announced he would leave the club, despite being under contract for the 2021 season.[30]
On 17 November 2020, Hannay joined theCronulla-Sutherland Sharks as an assistant coach.[31] On 14 April 2021 Hannay was named as caretaker head coach following the sacking ofJohn Morris[32]
In round 11 of the2021 NRL season, he earned his first win as Cronulla-Sutherland interim coach as the club defeated fierce rivalsSt. George Illawarra 13–12.[33]
Hannay is currently an assistant coach with the Queensland State of Origin Team.
On 25 August 2025, the Gold Coast announced that Des Hasler would not be the team coach in 2026 with them announcing that Hannay would take over as head coach from 2026.[34]On 16 October 2025, it was announced that there was a clause in Hannay's contract which stated that ifCraig Bellamy was approached by the Gold Coast to become head coach that Hannay would be demoted to assistant head coach.[35]
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1998 |  North Queensland | 21 | 15 | 29 | 50.0 | 0 | 118 |
| 1999 | North Queensland | 13 | 1 | 3 | 42.9 | 0 | 10 |
| 2000 | North Queensland | 5 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| 2001 | North Queensland | 12 | 3 | 0 | — | 0 | 12 |
| 2002 | North Queensland | 19 | 3 | 48 | 67.6 | 0 | 108 |
| 2003 | North Queensland | 23 | 10 | 95 | 79.8 | 0 | 230 |
| 2004 | North Queensland | 27 | 8 | 98 | 73.1 | 0 | 228 |
| 2005 | North Queensland | 21 | 7 | 62 | 66.0 | 0 | 152 |
| 2006 | North Queensland | 9 | 2 | 8 | — | 53.3 | 24 |
| 2007 |  Cronulla-Sutherland | 3 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career totals | 153 | 49 | 343 | 68.9% | 0 | 882 | |
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2009 |  Celtic Crusaders | 17 | 3 | 24 | – | 0 | 60 |
| Career totals | 17 | 3 | 24 | – | 0 | 60 | |
| † | Denotes seasons in which Hannay won aState of Origin Series |
| Season | Team | Matches | T | G | GK % | F/G | Pts |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 2003 |  Queensland | 1 | 0 | 4 | — | 57.1 | 8 |
| 2006† | Queensland | 1 | 0 | 0 | — | 0 | 0 |
| Career totals | 2 | 0 | 4 | — | 57.1 | 8 | |
| Josh Hannay – Coaching Results by Season | |||||||
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| NRL Team | Year | Games | Wins | Draws | Losses | Win % | Notes |
| North Queensland | 2020 | 9 | 2 | 0 | 7 | 22% | Interim role |
| Cronulla-Sutherland | 2021 | 19 | 8 | 0 | 11 | 42% | Interim role |
 Gold Coast Titans | 2026 | Head Coach | |||||
| Career | 28 | 10 | 0 | 18 | 36% | ||
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)