March 2018 REPORT DRAGONS COMMUNITY · March 2018 REPORT DRAGONS COMMUNITY Mudgee Community Embraces the Dragons A massive thank you to the Mudgee and Greater Central West Region

March 2018 REPORT DRAGONS COMMUNITY

Mudgee Community Embraces the Dragons

A massive thank you to the Mudgee and Greater Central West Region for embracing the Dragons at our now ‘country’ home.

Hats off also to the Dragons Community team, who joined the Greater Central West NRLD officers, and presented to 16 schools in the lead up to match day. They also facilitated a ‘community’ rugby league festival afternoon with proved a highlight for many eager youngsters and families.

We have received a lot of supportive feedback (see below) and very proud that we can make a positive contribution to the lives of many.

Dragons Community will re-visit many of these schools when we return in Round 11 in our premiership match against the Raiders.

“Thank you for coming to visit us at Rylstone Public School. The kids were very excited to have all three of you here. I think it was especially great for the girls to have Kezie here because it certainly helped to make the point that Rugby League IS for everyone - boys and girls. We currently have I very impressive Touch Footy player who is female who is seriously thinking of giving Tag footy a go in Mudgee. She can see that this could possibly lead to other avenues as well.

The kids were also very impressed to see themselves on the Dragons Facebook page. One of our teachers shared it on the School web page. Too cool!

Thanks for taking the time to include us. We really appreciate it.” Cheyne D'Ilio - Rylstone Public School

“The kids really enjoyed the visit by the Dragons. It was a big week for Mudgee and the hype is still being felt. The kids will be chuffed to see the footage of themselves and our school. So will the teachers.

Thanks once again.” Peter McDonnell – Mudgee Public School

Dragons set to visit the Central West

Central West Gallery

Dragons TV – Central West

Best in the Biz

Yet again, the St George Illawarra Dragons Community team and NRL Development have lead the way in presenting the best recruitment blitz in the game.

St George Illawarra Dragons players and staff, teamed with our NRL Game Development Officers and delivered the NRL Wellbeing program to students from Arncliffe in the north, Eden in the south and out to Dunedoo in the West.

We presented our WELLBEING assemblies at 108 schools, conducted 8 junior club ‘Come and Try’ afternoons and held ‘Meet and Greet’ sessions at Kiama and Bega.

Special acknowledgement to NRLD manager Matt O’Brien (Illawarra and South Coast) and Mick Armstrong (Central West NSW) who with Dragons Community Officer Adam Bezzina collaboratively designed, prepared and helped implement the program. A huge thank you to our players, who were professional, enthusiastic and prepared. We have received many positive comments from schools and junior clubs about their professionalism and their warmth when engaging with the kids.

Dragons' women's license application lodged

The St George Illawarra Dragons have confirmed an application for a license to compete in the inaugural 2018 Women's Premiership was forwarded to the NRL as required by the end of last week.

December's announcement regarding the introduction of a women's competition saw the Dragons quickly establish an organisation-wide group, including key internal staff as well as current Jillaroos and Dragons ambassadors Sam Bremner and Kezie Apps, to develop the club's submission.

"The Dragons have been so supportive to women's rugby league and personally to Kezie and I," Bremner said.

"I played my first game of footy in the Illawarra competition and even before there was any talk of an NRL women's competition, the Dragons wanted to help us be the best athletes we could be.

"We really have our fingers crossed that the Dragons are successful with their proposal."

The Dragons have a strong history and association with the development of women's rugby league, dating back to the first game in the Illawarra region in 1991 between the Wollongong Wildcats and Dapto Daredevils.

"St George Illawarra and particularly Illawarra Rugby League have been instrumental in the development of interest in women's rugby league over many years now," Dragons CEO Peter Doust said following the announcement of the competition in December.

"Given the support and structure that we already have within our region for women's rugby league, we believe it is logical and appropriate that the Dragons are included."

The Dragons believe that we meet all of the required criteria – both logically and strategically – to be awarded a licence to compete in the inaugural women's competition.

It is expected that the Australian Rugby League Commission will announce the recipients of the women's competition licenses in late March

Apps, Bremner named in NSW Origin pathway squad Apps, Bremner named in Top 40 elite women

More than Just a Gala Day!!

The magnitude of our recruitment program (school gala days) across a five week period, is amazing. Seventeen gala days (both primary and secondary schools) is quite remarkable. These gala days provide many students an opportunity to play and experience rugby league for the very first time. In fact, a little over 50% don’t play junior rugby league on the weekend. All participants at the gala days also received a NRL show bag which included a pencil case, yo-yo, highlighter and NRL Rewards School program are also discussed.

Beyond the Goal Posts

Local NRL Development officers continued to build on the very successful Beyond the Goal Post (BTGP) program in local high schools during March. Development officer deliver both a Referees and Coaching Course to students throughout the year. The programs allow students to referee at local primary school gala days as well as assist development officers at primary school NRL Backyard League sessions. Our aim for these students is to then take up a role as a referee or coach on the weekend within their local community. NRL Development will have 6 local high schools involved in the program in 2018.

School to Work

The St George Illawarra Dragons recently played host to 35 students from three local high schools currently engaged in the NRL School to Work program:

Vincentia HS Oak Flats HS and; Albion Park HS

There were also students from Western Sydney all of which were engaged in the NRL School to Work program.

This is the third year the Dragons have partnered with Australian Defence Force (ADF) Recruiting, with the students able to tour the facilities lead by Dragons Ambassador Matt Cooper, watch the Captain’s run and meet with the NRL side as well as partaking in some skills and games with Australian Jillaroo and Ambassador Kezie Apps.

Aside from rugby league, the students also had the opportunity to talk to members on hand from the Australian Air Force, Army and Navy.

Maya Wills (pictured far left) who returned

from the summit proudly being named as

‘Youth Summit Ambassador of the Year’.

Family, school (Nowra High), School to Work

officer Scott Morgan and the Dragons pass on

their congratulations.

A massive month – 78 activations by our Dragons/NRLD community and development team. See complete schedule below.

March Date Event Location

1 BYCB Diary Visit Warrawong PS

1 BYCB Diary Visit Koonawarra PS

1 Before School NRL Backyard League Kiama PS

1 Wellbeing Assembly Lake Illawarra South PS

1 Wellbeing Assembly Primbee PS

2 South Shoalhaven PSSA Legends Francis Ryan Rs, Sanctuary Point

2 NRL School To Work Lake Illawarra HS

2 NRL School To Work Illawarra Sports HS

2 Tackle Clinic Carlton PS

5 BYCB Diary Visit Scarborough PS

5 Mid South PSSA Trials Flinders Rs, Flinders

5 IGC Coaching Course Wollongong

6 BYCB Diary Visit Hayes Park PS

6 Wellbeing Assembly Warilla North PS

6 NRL School To Work Wollongong HS

6 Wellbeing Assembly Windang PS

6 NRL School To Work Keira HS

6 BYCB Diary Visit Barrack Heights PS

6 Wellbeing Assembly Warilla PS

6 Botany Bay PSSA Trials Scarborough Park, Brighton Le Sands

7 BYCB Diary Visit Gerringong PS

7 BYCB Diary Visit Hayes Park PS

7 MGC Coaching Course Bomaderry

7 Club Coach Coaching Course Wollongong

7 Wellbeing Assembly Mt Keira Demonstration PS

7 NRL LIFT Program Figtree HS

8 BYCB Diary Visit Peakhurst PS

8 BYCB Diary Visit Carlton South PS

8 NRL School To Work Ulladulla HS

8 NRL School To Work Shoalhaven HS

8 Before School NRL Backyard League Kiama PS

8 St George Bank Challenge Jubilee Oval, Kogarah

9 Central Wollongong PSSA Trials Gwynneville PS

9 Dapto PSSA Trials Farmborough Road PS

9 Tackle Clinic Carlton PS

9 BYCB Diary Visit Coledale PS

10 Group 7 Under 23s Indigenous All Stars Game

Rugby Park, Nowra

12 High School Gala Day 15s and Open 16s LT Croom Road, Albion Park

12 IGC Coaching Course Bomaderry

13 BYCB Diary Visit Nowra East PS

13 Tongarra PSSA Trials Chittick Oval, Kiama

13 NRL School To Work Warilla HS

13 NRL School To Work Kiama HS

13 Beyond The Goal Posts Corrimal HS

13 Back 2 Juniors Gerringong JRL

14 NRL LIFT Program Figtree HS

14 Beyond The Goal Posts Dapto HS

14 School To Work and ADF Day WIN Stadium Wollongong

15 Brokers PSSA Trials Towradgi PS

15 High School Gala Day 15s and Open Bomaderry Sporting Complex

15 Before School NRL Backyard League Kiama PS

15 NRL School To Work Dapto HS

15 Tackle Clinic Arncliffe PS

16 Beyond The Goal Posts Albion Park HS

16 Shoalhaven PSSA Legends Bomaderry Sporting Complex

16 BYCB Diary Visit Warilla PS

16 Tackle Clinic Carlton PS

16 NRL School To Work Lake Illawarra HS

19 North Wollongong PSSA Legends Hollymount Park , Woonona

19 North Wollongong PSSA Trials Hollymount Park , Woonona

20 Mid South PSSA Legends Cec Glenn Holmes Res, Warilla

21 Northern Illawarra PSSA Trials Reed Park, Dapto

21 NRL LIFT Program Figtree HS

21 NRL School To Work Figtree HS

22 Tongarra PSSA Legends Croom Road, Albion Park

22 NRL School To Work Corrimal HS

23 BYCB Diary Visit Batemans Bay PS

23 Botany Bay Legends Todd Park, Blakehurst

25 Under 23s Group 7 v Illawarra Cec Glenn Holmes Res, Warilla

26 BYCB Diary Visit Eden PS

26 Wellbeing Assembly Narwee PS

27 High School Gala Day 13s and 14 LT Sid Parrish Park, Figtree

27 NRL School To Work Nowra HS

27 NRL School To Work Shoalhaven HS

28 NRL LIFT Program Figtree HS

28 South Coast CHS 15s and Opens Trials Bomaderry Sporting Complex

28 Dragons Active Clinic Lindsay Park PS

29 Southern Illawarra PSSA Trials Chittick Oval, Kiama

29 NRL School To Work Dapto HS

Paul Everill

Community and Development Manager