NRL stars, the NSW Origin coach, scores of rugby league juniors and their parents, plus Wests Group Macarthur directors, converged on Campbelltown Sports Stadium yesterday afternoon.
The kids, who will be launching into a new season on the weekend, took part in clinics alongside some of their heroes, including Wests Tigers stars John Bateman, Charlie Staines, Asu Kepoa and Api Koroisau.
Brad Fittler too got into the spirit of the event, which was held to celebrate the announcement from Wests Group Macarthur that it would once again sponsor local rugby league, both seniors and juniors with a big $330,000 commitment.
The sponsorship will help power the grassroots rugby league conference across the Macarthur region of the combined Wests Tigers Macarthur Junior Rugby League and Group 6 Rugby League conference for the upcoming 2023 season.
The funding, being provided via the clubgrants scheme, will once again support 23 Clubs covering Liverpool, Campbelltown, Camden, Wollondilly and Wingecarribeelocal government areas.
The conference boasts more than 500 teams and 7,000 players, and the sponsorship deal continues to represent the largest financial commitment to any sporting code made by Wests Group Macarthur.
The funding from Wests Group for the 2023 season prioritises cost relief to families with insurance subsidies available for every participant, rebates offered on socks and shorts, and the covering of referee fees to help alleviate registration and game day costs on families participating in junior rugby league.
Funding also extends to projects that help promote positive rugby league pathways including player development and volunteer training programs, marketing and promotion initiatives, special events including gala days and finals series.
It also provides for sponsorship of the Andrew Johns (U16) and Laurie Dailey Cup (representative teams) competitions.
The partnership represents family savings of $30 per participant.
But Wests also acts a backbone of the league through in-kind activity supporting meetings, events, and the inclusion of Macarthur Rugby League within the Wests Sports Council.
NSW Rugby League continues to govern and act as the operational body for Group 6 and Wests Tigers Macarthur JRL in the Macarthur region, the second largest grassroots rugby League network in NSW (second only to Penrith).
Ultimately, the aim is to support growth opportunities and pathways in a bid to unearth the next rugby league superstar.
“The renewal of the Wests Group Macarthur funding is a huge win for rugby league in the region,’’ says Daniel Draper, the chairman of the Wests Tigers JRL board.
“Last season had many positives and 2023 is certainly looking bigger and better once again thanks to Wests Group Macarthur.
“On behalf of all clubs and participants I can’t thank Wests Group Macarthur enough for their continued support of rugby league.”
Mark Dooner, the chairman of the Group 6 Junior Rugby League said the support Wests Group Macarthur is giving rugby league is helping to increase playing numbers across the region leading into the 2023 season.
“The partnership with Wests Group Macarthur plays a huge role in providing support for all competitions from our youngest players all the way through to our successful conference competitions,’’ he said.
NSWRL chief executive David Trodden said he was grateful for the continued support from Wests Group Macarthur.
“Macarthur and Group 6 has always been an important catchment area for the NSWRL and has provided many wonderful stars of our game,” Mr Trodden said.
“This partnership is a significant investment in the grassroots of rugby league, and I thank Wests Group Macarthur chairman Alan Buxton and his board, and chief executive officer Daniel Perkiss, for their ongoing support.’’
Chairman of Wests Group Macarthur Alan Buxton said rugby league has been the “beating heart’’ of Wests Group Macarthur since inception in 1974.
“Being able to support the past, present, and future of the game within Macarthur is a privilege we take seriously, and we are pleased to see the local conference continue to grow in 2023,’’ he said.
At the heart of Western Suburbs League Club, the flagship venue in Wests Group portfolio, is a historic connection with rugby league and the Group 6 Rugby League competition – with the club originally built to support Campbelltown’s oldest rugby league team, the Campbelltown City Kangaroos, whose origins stretch back to 1908.
The region has a great track record of producing rugby league talent over the years, including David Nofoaluma (Campbelltown Warriors), True Blues Ryan Hoffman (Campbelltown Collegians), Anthony Minichiello (East Valley United), James Tedesco (Camden Rams) from Group 6.
This commitment to the sport of Rugby League by Wests Leagues club give me as a foundation director of the club great pride in the hard work and financial commitment of the Supporters of the Kangaroos Rugby League club that made the leagues club possible.
As I celebrate my 94 th birthday I still get great pleasure out of my memories of the work our members did under the leadership of the great John Marsden that founded the wests Leagues Club