FORTY young rugby league players and their parents gathered at the Tamworth Sports Dome on Saturday to begin the first of a number of sessions in the 2014-15 Greater Northern Academy.
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Fifteen of them are returning after undergoing their maiden voyage this time last last year.
Greater Northern regional manager, Scott Bone, outlined the program ahead for the teenagers from throughout the Hunter Valley, North West and Northern Tablelands.
Saturday was an induction and fitness testing day, providing an outline of what the young players can expect and what the GNA coaches want from the talented teenagers. Singleton’s Matt Kenny will coach the older GNA Tigers with the help of Darren Stewart and Richard Ingram.
Warialda’s Peter Stevens will again coach the younger players, the Cubs with the aid of Dungowan Cowboy captain-coach Luke Taylor.
Sports trainers Chris Bryant and Ron Pfeiffer are also on hand.
Scott Bone said a two-day camp will be held in Tamworth on November 15/16 at which four NRL welfare officers, including Andrew Ryan, Ben Smith and Dean Widders will be present.
It costs the teenagers $200 to be a part of the GNA from which they receive manuals, hats shorts, shirts, polo shirts, jackets and gear bags. All their accommodation costs are also paid for the camps.
“We’ve got 20 in each squad, look like having a great bunch of kids again,” said Peter Stevens.
Matt Kenny is delighted with them as well.
“I’m looking forward to working with all of them,” Matt Kenny said.
“We’ve had a good return rate. Obviously some kids have gone to NRL clubs. But that’s pleasing for us too.
“We have quite a few new faces as well.”
For him its all about developing the skills and football experience of the teenagers and turning them into better players and young men.
“We’ve got 15 of the younger squad coming back into the Tigers squad,” he said.
This year, he said the defensive techniques will be enhanced.
They have been running the same defensive drills and plan for the past few years but have updated that.
The success of the GNA can be seen in the fact that 12 players who have been part of the GNA over the past two years were named in Country Under 18 and 16 teams last season.
Muswellbrook’s Brad Collett was one of those.
He was also selected in the Newcastle Knights junior squads too but elected to stay in the GNA.
“It’s good fun,” the 16-year-old from Muswellbrook said at Saturday’s induction.
“Great for us,” said Matt Kenny “that he wanted to come back.
