THE Cooma Stallions have landed a major off-season signing with life member and club legend, Jason Kelly, unveiled as the new first-grade head coach.

Kelly will return home to coach his beloved Stallions, a club close to his heart and one he hopes to bring premiership success to.

The former NRL player has been at the helm of the Tuggeranong Bushrangers in the Canberra first-grade competition from the past three seasons, where he said he gained valuable experience.

“Coaching in Canberra has been a good learning experience,” Kelly said.

“I’ve done a lot of representative coaching but it’s a lot different when you need to put a whole season together.

“I learned a lot and had a great time.”

Kelly has coached almost every age group and grade during his more than 30-year involvement at the Stallions, but leading a Cooma first-grade squad has eluded him.

“I was named as head coach for 2020 but COVID messed that up. This will be my first time as the first-grade coach, I’ve run sides from under 11s all the way through,” Kelly said.

Kelly brings a wealth of coaching experience, including taking the Bushrangers to a grand final in 2023 (where they lost to the Sam Williams led Queanbeyan Roos) and running Country Rugby League junior sides.

Stallions president David Brison said the club and community is fortunate to have Kelly returning as head coach. Brison praised the efforts of Steve Dunn, the 2023 first grade head coach.

“He brings such experience to the club. Having played in Sydney in the NRL and coaching in Canberra he brings that experience,” Brison said.

“Steve Dunn did a great job, we appreciate his efforts and look forward to building on what he achieved with the squad.”

Kelly said he is honoured to coach a club he has such passion for. He was part of the Stallions’ 19994 premiership winning side, coached by Neil Henry.

“It will add an extra challenge coaching here, in a way it’s harder to coach a club you love,” Kelly said.

“When coaching others and rep teams there is less noise in the background. It’s a good noise here, it’s people I’ve grown up with.

“My knowledge here is greater than other places I’ve coached. I love the joint.”

While it might be September, some months away from the season starting, Kelly is already hard at work.

“Dunn did a great job this year. In most game this season the side was competitive and in most games,” Kelly said.

“I’m looking to build on what has been started. We do need to improve defensively, you can’t win premierships without being good defensively.

“We are looking at strengthening in the forwards. There is a lot of talent here, especially with the younger guys coming through.”