Pre-season isn’t meant to be this much fun – but try telling that to the 120 junior players who have travelled as far as Wellington, New Zealand to take part in the NSW Rugby League Academy’s annual January camp held this week in Narrabeen.
Perhaps the secret to the 5-day camp’s appeal is the water sports – players participate in canoe team-building exercises on Narrabeen Lake – or maybe it’s the adrenalin of the elaborate rope and abseiling obstacle course.
Or could it be the chance to hear from NRL rising stars Lachlan Coote and Masada Iosefa why they love playing Rugby League? Or train with the premiership winning Manly Sea Eagles?
Coote, who with his Penrith Panthers teammates Iosefa, Junior Moors and Daniel Penese addressed the group of 12 to 17 year olds in the final days of the camp last week, put it best in his own words:
“I came to one of these camps when I was a bit younger and it’s all about having fun playing football and meeting new mates,” Coote said.
“You do a lot of team building exercises and learn new ways to improve your game and it’s just a lot of fun.
“All of the kids hadn’t met before the camp started and from what I saw they are all mates already, which is great… it’s not all about footy.”
Pat Knox, a local Wellington junior league official, explained why 16 of his area’s junior players saved up to fund their trip across the Tasman.
“The facilities here and the standard of coaching and development are really second to none,” Knox said.
“The [NSWRL] Academy has fields, gyms, leisure activities, and more importantly experienced development officers who will help our kids improve their football and enjoy themselves why doing it.
“We also think it’s good to bring them over here and experience the game in Australia because for the ones that do make it [to the elite level], many of them will inevitably be based here.”
It was obvious the Wellington kids had no trouble fitting in – all 16 summed up the courage to perform a rehearsed war dance in front of their peers and an impressed quartet of NRL players.
But it was not just the kids who had all the fun.
While the junior players completed drills on the playing field at the NSWRL Academy’s base at the Sydney Academy of Sport, inside the upgraded Academy offices a 38-strong group of Rugby League coaches listened intently to development officers in the lecture theatre.
Among them were St George’s Harold Matthews Under-16 coach Graeme Wynn. Sitting next to him was former Fiji dual international Mesake Navugona – who had flown from his homeland to attend the 3-day Coaching Level 2 course.
“I played for Fiji in the 2000 Rugby League World Cup and before that I played Rugby Union – but now I’m a development officer for Rugby League back home,” Navugona said.
“I want to give something back to Rugby League back home because it has been so good to me, and coming out here and making use of these great resources will help me improve.”
NSWRL Academy development officer Steve Hewson said coaches received lectures on a range of topics such as sports science, advanced skills and sports psychology – the player and coach relationship.
“We provide information for the coaches to challenge themselves and their players,” Hewson said.
“We don’t try to tell them what to do, just give them the information – how they go and use that information determines what kind of coach they will be.”
Meanwhile, a 25-strong group of budding First Aid Officers completed tasks for their Level 1 3-day course – many of whom will take their new skills back to junior league level for the coming season.
The First Aid Officer Level 1 course includes topics on injury treatment, strapping, physiology and anatomy, and a lecture from the Australian Sports Anti Doping Authority.
NSWRL Coaching and Development Manager Martin Meredith said the Academy’s three simultaneous development camps – which all concluded yesterday – formed just a small part of the Academy’s overall contribution to Rugby League.
“We try to provide an educational opportunity for all the facets of the game,” Meredith said.
“Whether they are trainers, coaches, officials or players – our programs are for anyone who has a passion for the sport and wants to develop their skills.
“But our focus is on providing an avenue for the people who play for at the base level, or for the love of the game so to speak, who want to improve their own skills and give back to the game.”
The NSWRL Academy in Narrabeen is this year joined by the redeveloped NSWRL Western Sydney Rugby League Academy based at CUA Stadium in Penrith, which launches on February 21 amidst a huge day of Rugby League at the Panthers’ home ground.
The WSRLA is a joint venture between the NSWRL, NRL and Western Sydney’s three NRL clubs Parramatta, Penrith and Wests Tigers, to service the outstanding number of junior players and leagues in the region, provide opportunities and facilitate coach, referee and first aid education.
The WSRLA also provides support and development opportunities for Pacific Island and Indigenous heritage players and volunteers and will play a key part in identifying special needs areas.
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