St Georges Basin Dragons president Nathanial Hampton-Olive yesterday had a huge smile on his face after watching 150 of his juniors practise their skills at a free Rugby League clinic with Westpac NSW Blues coach Brad Fittler and Harvey Norman NSW Sky Blues coach Kylie Hilder.
“This club has been through a lot…and having both Origin coaches here to help us means so much,” he told nswrl.com.au at the Dragons home ground at Sanctuary Point on the NSW south coast.
“This is an awesome turnout – it’s incredible for the NSWRL and the NRL to put this afternoon on for our kids.
“Look at the large number of kids here – it speaks volumes, doesn’t it?”
Fittler and Hilder hosted a clinic at Sanctuary Point after the area had withstood bushfires, COVID, floods, and finally their clubhouse being damaged by vandals.
“We’re trying to get the club back on its feet,” Hampton-Olive said.
“I’ve been pushing the council hard to get everything fixed up so we could play this year and now we’re ready to go.”
The St Georges Basin Dragons 2023 season starts on 22 April for Under 6s through to Under 15s.
There are tackle and League Tag teams, and an Under 14s girls tackle team.
“Also after a 12-year hiatus we have a seniors team back,” Hampton-Olive said. “So, we can get those up-and-coming kids in the 15s to transition into the seniors. Good times for the Dragons.”
He added that it was “people power” which helped revive the club.
“Some senior members just got together and started to re-boot things,” he said. “Footy is such a big part of so many people’s lives - having Freddy and Kylie come today just helps us tremendously.”
Another of those active on the sidelines as kids were put through drills on Francis Ryan Reserve, was former NRL star and now Group 7 Operations Manager for the NSWRL, Ashton Sims.
He looks after 15 junior and 17 senior clubs from Albion Park in the north to Milton-Ulladulla in the south.
“This is incredibly insightful from NSWRL in understanding the impact players and coaches of the calibre of Kylie and Freddy have on a community like this,” Sims said.
“The promotion of community clubs like the Dragons is incredibly important for Rugby League’s development and sustainability.
“There’s no secret to the fact kids in the Shoalhaven area face the same sorts of problems and disconnect as kids everywhere.
“But if we can keep our kids engaged in school and playing a great game like Rugby League then we’re helping them have happier and healthier lives.”
It is the second time in two years that Fittler and his team of HOGS motorcycle riders, including former True Blue, Eastern Suburbs and Kangaroos star Ian Schubert, have visited the St Georges Basin area.
“This is real grass roots investment,” Sims said. “We’re all giving back to the game we love.”
