Issue #17
COUNTRY V CITY SUCCESS
The annual AAMI Country v City Origin clash proved to be a huge success this year, with a sold out crowd
packing McDonalds Park to see a 34-22 victory to the VB Country Origin side.
Fans and players gave this year’s game an overwhelming stamp of approval, with KARI City Coach Brad Fittler
one of the biggest admirers on the day.
"I always hear a lot of complaints about
how we don't look after country footy and
all that sort of stuff. But I have to stay this
year, I've watched the Cairns and
Bathurst games and it was nothing on
this," Fittler said.
"It was chockers and people were spilling
out over the edges so it would be a great
way to show when we do have country
games that we have the same kind of
vibe as this. It has been absolutely
brilliant for the past couple of days. It was
a fantastic experience for all of us.
Click here to see ‘In the Sheds’ video with VB Country Origin Team.
FINISH WITH THE RIGHT STUFF
Finish with the Right Stuff is coming to the CRL Junior U14/15s Championships in Wagga Wagga and Port
Macquarie on the 9th May, 2015!
Finish with the Right Stuff is an exciting
program delivered by NSW Health to
encourage children participating in junior
sport to eat healthier and drink water before,
during and after sport.
Finish with the Right Stuff is launching its
FREE online training with easy to use tools
for club canteen managers, volunteers and
coaches t provide and promote healthier
food and drinks.
Come visit the Finish with the Right Stuff
tent to find out more or register your club for
the training
at www.rightstuff.health.nsw.gov.au
Issue #17
THE NRL ROOKIE
The NRL in conjunction with Channel 9 and McGuire Media will be launching a new Reality TV Show called "The
NRL Rookie". The aim of the show is to perform a global search to discover new talent capable of playing at the
highest level, with one winner being granted an NRL contract.
This is a truly amazing opportunity for players who for whatever reason never got or never took their chance to
make it at the highest level. Somebody out there, who is currently unknown, will win an NRL contract. This could
be life changing!
ELEGIBILITY CRITERIA
In order to be eligible for the program NRL Rookies must meet the following criteria:
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Applicants must be at least 20 years of age;
Applicants must never have been on an NRL first grade Top 25 Squad List or played an NRL first grade
game;
Applicants must not have played a Second
Tier NRL match (NSW/QLD Cup) or a
Holden Cup U20's in either of the last three
seasons (being 2013-2015).
APPLICATIONS ARE NOW OPEN - CLOSING
15th MAY
Visit the NRL Rookie for more information
CORRIMAL COUGARS WOMEN’S NINES COMPETITION
Where: Robert Ziems Park, Corrimal
When: Saturday 9th May 2015 from 9.00am
Cost: Registration is $100 per team
Spectators $5.00 on entry
Make sure you get out and support a great day of footy!
We have 9 teams participating including;
 Corrimal Cougars
 Helensburgh Orange
 Berkeley Eagles
 Windang Sharks
 Helensburgh Black
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Maitland Pickers
Mt Druitt PCYC
Spartans
Redfern All Blacks
Greenacre Tigers
Issue #17
2015 AAMI COUNTRY CHAMPIONSHIPS
The 2015 AAMI Country Championships will kick-off this weekend with the U14s and U15s taking the field in
Wagga Wagga and Port Macquarie.
This weekend marks the start of a seven-week program that will see the best country players from across New
South Wales representing their groups and regions in U14s, U15s, U16s, U18s and Seniors, to determine who
will be the AAMI Country Champions in each age group.
The U14s / U15s in Wagga Wagga will be played at Paramore Park and will feature Illawarra, VRL, Group 6,
Group 7, Group 9, Group 10, Group 11, Group 14, Group 16 and Group 20, whilst Port Macquarie Regional
Sports Stadium will see Newcastle, Central Coast, Maitland, Group 2, Group 3, Group 4, Group 18, Group 19 and
Group 21 go head-to-head.
Be sure to get out there and support the best country Rugby League players from across New South Wales.
2015 AAMI Country Championship Dates / Venues
9/10th May U14s / U15s Championships – Wagga Wagga, Port Macquarie
16th May U14s / U15s Championship Finals – Cessnock
23rd May Senior Championships Round 1 – Forster
30th May Senior Championships Round 2 – Bathurst
6/7th June U16s / U18s Championships – Muswellbrook
13th June Senior Championships Round 3 – TBA
20th June U16s / U18s / Tier 1 Senior / Tier 2 Senior Championship Finals – Mudgee
Issue #17
PARKES’ TRIBUTE TO JOCK
WAYNE ‘Jock’ Colley’s contribution to the game of rugby league will be recognised next month when Parkes
Shire Council and the Parkes Spacemen club combine to honour the former player and administrator. After about
12 months of planning, the playing surface within the Pioneer Oval complex will be named Jock Colley Field.
Colley passed away in February 2014 after suffering a stroke while on an evening walk around the town. His
passing shocked the Parkes community, while his funeral was attended by some of rugby league’s biggest
names.
“Jock and I went onto the Parkes committee in about 1987 when the club was heavily in debt and going
nowhere,” then-Spacemen president Warwick Wheeldon said at the time of Colley’s death.
“Jock drove everybody to get behind the club and somehow we managed to bring the club back into the black
and get rugby league going again.
“Through his association with Ken Arthurson we were able to bring a lot of big games to Parkes, including the
Test match between Australia and France, and he helped reshape Pioneer Oval into what it is today.”
With those words in mind, the gesture to
name the playing surface after Colley is
quite fitting, according to another friend
and Parkes Shire Council staffer Mick
Greenwood.
“It’s taken a bit of time to get where we are
now because you have to go through the
Geographical Names Board and a few
other places before you can do these
things,” Greenwood said.
“It’s a similar thing to what we have done
with the hockey pitch here in town. It’s in
the Cheney Park facility but the actual
playing surface is names after Steven
Davies.
“Fisher Park at Cootamundra has the Les
Boyd Field and Willow Park at Junee has Laurie Daley Field. It’s happening more and more often these days
around the bush but this motion was voted through unanimously by council when the letter came forward from the
Parkes club.
“It means we keep the history and integrity of Pioneer Oval but it puts Jock’s name there forever and a day.”
Ironically, the unveiling of the new Jock Colley Field will come on June 7 when the Spacemen take on their arch
rivals Forbes in what is now a traditional long weekend fixture.
Greenwood added that Colley’s family is behind the move, and added a function will be held after the match.
“Jock was president here for 10 years and he was in his sixth term as chairman of the CRL when he passed
away, that is the esteem in which he was held,” Greenwood said.
“He was forthright in his views, he fought hard for bush footy and he was never afraid to argue the point if he
thought he was doing the right thing for the game.
“Having the unveiling when Parkes plays Forbes is fitting too because Jock actually captain-coached Forbes for a
year. He took half the Parkes team with him that year too.
“Afterwards we will have a bit of a function back at the Leagues Club. We were going to have a dinner but we
spoke with his wife Bev and decided that was too formal and not what he would have wanted.
“Instead it’s going to be an event where everyone can go back after the footy and have a couple of beers and
share some stories