A decorated Olympic coach and two of Australia’s greatest players complete Hockeyroos’ and Kookaburras’ coaching lineups

A coaching lineup that boasts five Olympic gold medals and four bronze, will lead the Hockeyroos and Kookaburras into a new era ahead of the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games, as the team to guide the Australian national sides was announced today.

Hockeyroos Head Coach Katrina Powell has called upon the experience of Rhett Halkett to join her as assistant coach, following almost a decade of success that has seen him win an Olympic medal as an assistant coach at every Olympic Games since he retired from playing in 2019.

Rhett joins the role having helped the unbeatable Netherlands women to Olympic gold at the Tokyo Olympic Games and, most recently, guiding the Indian men’s national side to a bronze medal at the Paris Olympics just four months ago.

“When I look back on my two previous Olympic campaigns, they were both unique in that I joined them a year and a half out before the Olympics,” Rhett recalled.

“Being able to step in right at the start of an Olympic campaign is something I’m really looking forward to. I think the balance of what Katrina does as a coach, combined with what I’ve been doing in the past with the Dutch women and Indian men matches up well as we have different strengths as coaches.

“What the Hockeyroos are implementing with a younger selection for the 2025 squad is about starting to build something strong for Los Angeles. It’s a fantastic time for a coach to be involved, and it is an exciting time for the Hockeyroos.”

Incoming Kookaburras’ Head Coach Mark Hager has retained the experience of double Olympic medallist Rob Hammond as Assistant Coach of the Kookaburras.

Rob remains with his former side, joining as a coach in 2017 under former Head Coach Colin Batch, and will continue with the Kookaburras until at least the 2028 Los Angeles Olympic Games.

The duo has drawn on the experience of one of Australia’s greatest players, double Olympic medallist Bevan George.

Bevan played during the Kookaburras’ greatest era, winning Olympic gold in Athens in 2004 and Olympic bronze in Beijing in 2008.

Considered one of the most accomplished Australian defenders in history, Bevan will work with the Kookaburras twice a week, as the team develops a raft of exciting new talent in the 2025 squad.

“I was at home on the farm at the time, and I saw a phone call from Mark. I thought he just wanted to have a general chat, but he asked if I was interested in joining the group, and it didn’t take me long to consider my options!” Bevan admitted.

“I’ve dug a few of my old books out from my days playing under Colin and Barry and I’m looking forward to just being back in the Kookaburras outfit.

“It brings back a lot of good memories and I believe we can be in a handy spot in 18 months when the 2026 World Cup rolls around.”

Having identified a gap in specialist skills coaching talent, HA has secured 2008 Beijing Olympic bronze medallist Luke Doerner as a specialist drag flicking coach.

Luke joins retained Goalkeeping Coach David Staniforth in working across both national programs and the High-Performance development pathway, in a bid to develop specialist drag flicking skills and goalkeeping talent as part of the LA2028 HA High-Performance strategy.

The Kookaburras’ and Hockeyroos’ first test will come at the 2025 FIH Pro League campaign in Sydney next week, when they face the Netherlands, China and Spain from 4 – 9 February.

The squads will travel to Argentina in late February before touring Europe in June as they prepare for the 2026 World Cup Qualifier at the Oceania Cup when international hockey returns to Darwin in September.

All Kookaburras and Hockeyroos matches will be streamed live and free on 7plus.