RUGBY LEAGUE
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STATE Of Origin assistant coach Matt Parish had a simple message for the Greater Northern Academy squad members and coaches at their rugby league session at Jack Woolaston Oval in Tamworth yesterday.
It was a message of opportunity for the blossoming young rugby league stars, not only for their sport but life in general.
“We want to give these young guys the opportunity to be the best player they can be, whether its at Origin level, in the NRL or with their local club,” Parish told The Leader.
“These boys (GNA squad) are well coached and well organised and well educated. They certainly have the opportunity but it’s up to them.
‘The big thing with Laurie (State Of Origin coach Laurie Daley) is that it’s got to be 24/7. “You’ve got to live it and make some good decisions on and off the field. You can’t train for an hour and think it will happen.”
Parish, who is also the Samoan coach as well as Laurie Daley’s assistant, works for the NSWRL.
“Trying to get Laurie’s message out to everyone in NSW,” he said.
It’ a big job purely and simply because it’s a big state.
Not just Sydney either, right across the board to all the country areas.
Yesterday, he presented a video for the GNA players and coaches to take in.
It’s the same presentation played all over to players, club coaches and officials throughout the state as well as the high performance junior sides and the State Of Origin squad itself.
“Laurie has implemented some changes in Origin structure,” Parish said.
“This presentation shows what we want and the things they need to do from the Origin level to the grass roots.”
After the presentation Parish overlooked the GNA session which was aimed at not only practising the various skills but also preparing the team structure for trial games for the two GNA squads against Newcastle Knights squads in a few week’s time.