Reece Simmonds realises he has big shoes to fill when he takes over from Paul McGregor as head coach of Illawarra Carlton League premiers Wests Red Devils next season, but he's looking forward to the challenge.McGregor completed his three-year tenure at Wests with a perfect record of three premierships after the Devils won the 2011 grand final 34-24 against Helensburgh on Saturday.Simmonds has played in the past two Wests premierships and been part of McGregor's coaching group during that time.One year ago, Simmonds stood on WIN Stadium and couldn't believe that he had come out of an injury-forced retirement to be part of Wests' premiership-winning team.Simmonds had decided that was the ultimate way to bow out of an illustrious playing career which included NRL stints with St George Illawarra and South Sydney as well as Collegians and Wests in the Illawarra Carlton League.Well, what a 2011 season he's had. Simmonds was in a coaching role but came out of retirement when the Devils were short of experienced backline players because of injuries.Not only that, Simmonds also was called up to St George Illawarra for a return to the NRL in the Dragons' hour of need after the State of Origin series had taken a toll on their playing ranks.Now Simmonds has played in another Carlton League premiership team, the Devils winning the grand final in 2011, the Centenary of Illawarra Rugby League year.At this stage Simmonds has hung up his boots to concentrate on coaching but should the need arise he will strap them on again."Coaching is going to be good and it's a challenge I'm looking forward to," Simmonds said."We've won three in a row so he (McGregor) has put a bit of pressure on me. There's a lot of depth in the club."That is evident by the Devils winning the first and second grade and under 18 premierships."Unbelievable," Wests president Mat Reh said of this achievement."From day one since Mary (McGregor) has been here and the coaching staff we've got has stuck together and we're all a really good club and a tight club," Reh said.Reh said winning their third consecutive first grade premiership had confirmed Wests' status as the best and most consistent club side in the Country Rugby League."If we don't win the Clayton Cup (awarded to the best club team in country NSW) this year, we'll play whichever club wins it for money. Our club will put it up," Reh said.Only one Illawarra club has won the Clayton Cup since its inception in 1937 - Port Kembla winning in 1946.