Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder knows all too well the tyranny of distance that many young Rugby League players experience.
The Taree product travelled a 730km round-trip from the mid-north coast to Sydney to play with her junior club, Forestville Ferrets, every weekend.
As a player with Central Coast Roosters and then as assistant coach to the Sydney Roosters NRLW team, Hilder is still on the road for a 770km round trip now that she lives in nearby Forster.
She is also NSWRL Female Pathways manager.
“I’m a country girl so I understand the difficulties and challenges that country people have,” Hilder said. “All my life I’ve had to travel to play my sport.
“I love getting out to these regional areas to hear their stories of what these kids have to go through, and how much travel they have, simply to play.
“They are already showing commitment so the reason we came out west at this time of year is that it’s time to sign up and register to play.”
Freddy's Daily Diary | NSWRL Hogs Tour 2023 - Day Four
Hilder and Westpac NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler have this week been on a massive recruitment drive as part of the NSWRL Hogs Regional Tour for 2023.
They have staged free football clinics in Dubbo, Bourke and Walgett and Glen Innes with the help of True Blue Craig Wing, Indigenous legend, Manly NRL premiership winner and Bourke native, Ron ‘Rambo’ Gibbs, True Blue Boyd Cordner and Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues captain Kezie Apps. Further clinics are planned for Lismore today and Tamworth tomorrow.
Women’s participation numbers continue to grow after breaking through the 20,000-mark in 2021 with 22,810 registrations, followed by another increase of 23,203 in 2022.
Hilder would like to see that number rise again in 2023 and she’s been heartened by the number of girls coming to the outback clinics and playing alongside the boys.
Freddy's Daily Diary | NSWRL Hogs Tour 2023 - Day Three
“League Tag is really strong in our regional areas and a lot of the girls I’ve spoken to are already playing that,” Hilder said.
“Tackle is slowly growing. Some of the younger girls told me they play in boys’ teams.
“That’s obviously the next step – to have stand-alone female competitions.”
Hilder is unsure if there is a full understanding of the NSWRL pathways with the Lisa Fiaolo Cup (Under 16/17s), Harvey Norman Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19s) and Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership.
“Some may not know because they live fairly remotely,” she said.
“There is the NRLW on television and NSWRL live streaming our women’s games. Some we’ve had in our clinics this week are only 10 or 11.
“We need to let them know the game is growing and they are the perfect age to take the opportunity. By the time they reach 17 and 18 there’ll be a full-blown NRLW competition.
“I love explaining our (NSWRL) female comps that lead into the NRLW.
“The fact that we’re trying to grow those opportunities for girls in country NSW without having to pack up and move is so important.”
