Junior rugby league registrations are open for season 2018, with the NRL launching a new campaign today inviting participants to 'play in a different league' next year.
The campaign builds on the success and increase in first-time junior registrations nationally this year, following sweeping rule and field size changes, particularly in the younger age brackets playing league.
NRL stars Mitchell Moses and Michael Gordon, joined Harvey Norman Jillaroos players Corban McGregor and Isabelle Kelly in supporting the campaign and encouraged current and potential junior players to consider playing in a different league.
"Junior footy was heaps of fun when I was growing up," Moses said.
"I remember kicking the footy around with my mates after school and then getting to throw the ball around and score tries on the weekend."
Corban McGregor remembers joining in the fun of chasing the footy around the backyard growing up and said it was fantastic to see so many young girls taking up the opportunity to play junior league.
"As a young mum myself, it's the best feeling to be running around with my son and having the chance to watch him play the game he loves and the game I love," McGregor said.
"There's a lot of care taken with junior league and the emphasis is certainly about kids just being kids and enjoying their rugby league alongside their friends."
The campaign comes after the NSW Government has announced the Active Kids rebates program, in which the state's school-enrolled students can get $100 off registration costs.
NRL Head of Football, Brian Canavan said the game would continue to canvass local clubs and communities to ensure that families felt comfortable and understood the significant differences between junior rugby league and grades above.
"At the younger ages, it's all about the experience more than anything," Mr Canavan said.
"More game time, increased opportunities with the ball and a positive learning environment, where players are rewarded for effort, rather than penalised for mistakes.
"The emphasis is on fun and safety, first and fore-most."
Junior rugby league registrations are open nationally, with details on local junior clubs, along with information on the rules in different age brackets, available at nrl.com/play
