Royce Michael Simmons was born on 2 May 1959 and is an Australian former professional rugby league footballer and coach.
19 Facts About Royce Simmons
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Royce Simmons later coached the Panthers from 1994 to 2001, in between coaching English sides Hull FC and St Helens.
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In June 2016, Royce Simmons was inducted into the Penrith Panthers Hall of Fame alongside Grahame Moran, Greg Alexander and Craig Gower.
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Royce Simmons was awarded the Medal of the Order of Australia in the 2025 Australia Day Honours.
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Royce Simmons played much of his first year at lock but was moved to hooker late in the 1981 season.
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Royce Simmons was selected for all games of the 1987 State of Origin series, including the fourth game held at the Veterans Memorial Stadium in Long Beach, California.
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In 1983, Royce Simmons was appointed captain of the team, a position he retained until 1990 when he captained the Panthers in the 1990 Grand Final loss to the Canberra Raiders.
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The Panthers won their first premiership, and Royce Simmons retired with his second try late in the game sealing the win for the Phil Gould coached Panthers.
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Royce Simmons stated that despite being overjoyed at finally winning a premiership, nothing could erase the bad memory of losing the 1990 decider to the Raiders.
10.
In October 2004, Royce Simmons was named at hooker in the Panthers' "Team of Legends'".
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Royce Simmons began coaching in 1992 for St Marys reserve grade side.
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Royce Simmons went on to become Panthers coach in the closing stages of the 1994 NSWRL season after Phil Gould was dismissed, and served for seven seasons until he was himself sacked from the position after the 2001 NRL season, when the Panthers won the wooden spoon.
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Royce Simmons served as the Wests Tigers assistant coach under his former coach Tim Sheens from 2003 to 2010, during which time they took out the 2005 NRL Premiership.
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Royce Simmons has worked as Tim Sheens' assistant coach for the Australian national team.
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Royce Simmons was named to take over the coaching position at St Helens in 2011.
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Royce Simmons coached the St Helens in the 2011 Super League Grand Final defeat by the Leeds Rhinos at Old Trafford.
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Royce Simmons parted company with St Helens in March 2012.
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In November 2012, Royce Simmons was named assistant coach at NRL side Wests Tigers.
19.
In February 2022, Royce Simmons revealed that he had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease.