Rugby League Coaching Manuals

The NSW Rugby League - providing affordable top level Rugby League to fans and their families, a strategic plan to develop and build on the state’s near 45,000 junior players and a clear pathway for them to achieve their NRL dream.

That was the emphatic message delivered Monday at the launch of the NSWRL’s 2009 competitions the NSW Cup, the Bundaberg Red Cup and the inaugural season of the National Junior Representatives – Australia’s first elite junior sporting competition.

NSW Minister for Community Services the Hon Linda Burney MP, Wests Tigers and Kangaroos coach Tim Sheens and Western Suburbs veteran John Skandalis joined club officials and players at the NSW Leagues Club to usher in the 2009 season.

A new Academy in Sydney’s west to service and build on the region’s 20,000 junior Rugby League players, a new sponsor in Bundaberg Red for the League’s successful semi-professional competition and the addition of Shellharbour to the state’s premier open-aged competition – the NSW Cup – are among a host of exciting changes in 2009.

Never before has Rugby League had a clearer pathway from grass roots to elite level Rugby League, said NSWRL General Manager Geoff Carr:

“The National Junior Representative competition is truly unique and one that will be the envy of other sports,” Carr said.

“The highly successful NSWRL Harold Matthews and SG Ball Cup competitions are now expanded to feature 66 teams from the Northern Territory, Queensland, NSW, all the way down to Melbourne.

“It will feature 1600 of Australia’s best young Rugby League players at the Under-16 and Under-18 level.

“From there the NSW Cup and Toyota Cup complete a clear pathway for junior players to reach the lofty heights of the NRL and it’s a link that we are very proud to have achieved.”

Providing the backbone to the NSWRL’s elite player pathway is the NSWRL Academy in Narrabeen and its recently launched equivalent based at CUA Stadium in Penrith – the Integral Energy NSWRL Western Sydney Academy.

The NSWRL Western Sydney Academy is headed by former Parramatta Eels General Manager Greg Mitchell and has already begun building on western Sydney’s Rugby League playing base of more than 20,000 juniors.

With a staff of 12 including dedicated development officers for Indigenous and Pacific communities, former Sydney Roosters CEO Brian Canavan in a consultancy role and a unique partnership with all three western NRL clubs in Wests Tigers, Parramatta and Penrith – the Western Sydney Academy is primed to further strengthen Rugby League’s bond with the region.

Yesterday's launch also saw the official unveiling of the 2009 NSW Cup trophy, the release of both competition draws, and the official announcement of the NSWRL’s partnership with Bundaberg.

Carr said Bundaberg’s support of the Bundaberg Red Cup (which replaces the Jim Beam Cup) further strengthened a long time partnership between Rugby League and the brewer. 

Bundaberg’s Marketing Manager for events and sponsorship in the Asia Pacific region Matt Bruhn was also on hand today to usher in the seventh season of the highly successful semi-professional open-aged competition.

“Bundaberg Rum is a long-standing supporter of Rugby League in Australia and has been the official spirit of the National Rugby League since 2005, investing more than $15 million in the Game,” Bruhn said.

“The rich Australian heritage of Bundaberg is all about celebrating mateship, and we are proud to support a time-honoured tradition that allows mates to get together across the nation, whether it’s playing the sport or as a fan of your favourite team. 

“This new sponsorship of the Bundaberg Red Cup further demonstrates our commitment to supporting the NSWRL in developing the future of Rugby League in Australia.”