Former NRL player Aaron Gorrell, who spent time with both the St George Illawarra Dragons and Brisbane Broncos before carving out an exceptional coaching and playing career with the Queanbeyan Kangaroos in the Canberra Cup competition, is now coach of Group 9.
The 41-year-old, who follows the Group 9 competition closely and will lead the representative side into Sunday’s annual Kelly Cup match against Group 20 at Griffith’s Solar Mad Stadium, was tickled pink to be given the opportunity.
“I’d seen the job advertised and had watched a fair bit of Group 9 this year, and coached a few of those players, and I thought it would be a good opportunity to have a crack at coaching a representative side and some good players,” Gorrell said.
“To be honest, I didn’t think I’d get the job, and thought they would give it to someone local or a Group 9 coach, but it was a nice surprise to get the phone call and I’ve been excited ever since.
“I’ve been watching keenly during the Group 9 finals series, and I thought the competition was some of the better country footy going around.”
Prior to the COVID-19 pandemic, Group 9 had dominated the Kelly Cup in recent years. Gorrell wants his side to maintain that dominance on Sunday.
“No matter what it is, I want to win,” Gorrell said.
“You don’t play sport to come second, and you do everything to get the win and hopefully we come out of it with a good win for Group 9 and a good team for Riverina.”
The Kelly Cup will be a good opportunity for players to show their worth as they vie for spots in the Riverina Bulls squad that will contest the 2023 Country Championships.
Gorrell admitted that he also wanted to make a strong claim for the Riverina coaching job.
“In the big picture, it is something I have thought about,” Gorrell said.
“Obviously, you deal with what comes first and Group 9 is what interested me to start with, but looking at it in the long term, I want to start coaching rep sides, and if the job is available, it would be a good opportunity and I will throw my hat in the ring.
“Before any of that, we need to deal with Group 20, and hopefully we come away with a good win on Sunday, and then get a good, competitive (Riverina) side from that game.”
As far as having Group 9 ready for Sunday’s match against Group 20, Gorrell wasn’t going to over complicate things.
“You have got the best players from both competitions. I am not there to coach or teach them to play Rugby League, but just make sure everyone is on the same page,” Gorrell said. “It’s about having a plan but letting them play what’s in front of them.”
Group 9 line-up: Hamish Starr, Mitch Ivill, Brayden Draber, James Stewart, Charlie Barton, Jock Ward, Kyle McCarthy, Jake Walker, Lachlan Bristow, Afa Collins, Adam Pearce, Billy Reardon, James Hay, Will McDermott, Jett Lui, Zac Starr, Kris Rands, Kye Wright.
Group 20 side: Kirtis Fisher, Hayden Philp, George Broome, Rhys Wilesmith, Shanon Bradbrook, Jonathan Sila, Joe Peato, Adam McCann, Stephen Broome, Gospel Toru, Veti Mataa, Mosese Naliva, Semi Tafili, Braiden Jones, Jasper Louden, Dylan McCartney, De'Andre Williams, Chris Latu, Elwyn Ravu.
