Former NRL stars Andrew Fifita and Blake Austin will be trying to help the Woy Woy Roosters win back-to-back trophies at the second annual Brodie Pearson Memorial 9s tournament in NSW’s Hunter Valley on Saturday (12 October).
Almost 300 players from 16 teams – eight men’s and eight women’s – will take part at Maitland Sports Ground with the Roosters the defending champions along with the Steel City Elite women’s side.
The event is proudly sponsored by Hunter Valley civil construction company, A-Plus Contracting and Poly-welding and pays tribute to Pearson (pictured below) – a young front rower with the Aberglasslyn Ants, who hurt his neck in a match in June 2023 and died later in hospital.
“A group from the Aberglasslyn club wanted to pay their respects to Brodie by creating an annual event,” said one of the organisers Jack Kelly.
“This year we are also honouring Blake Tisdell and Lynan Scott by having their names headline the men’s and women’s pool games.”
Tisdell, 31, died after collapsing during a pre-season training session with his Aberglasslyn Ants teammates in February this year.
Scott, 33, was also connected with the club and was one of the 10 people killed in the Hunter Valley bus crash near Greta following a local wedding last year.
“They all loved Rugby League and this is one way we can carry on their legacies each year,” Kelly said.
There will be a Male and Female Player of the Tournament named at the end of competition, and all proceeds from the $5 entry fee and various raffles are going to the Westpac Rescue Helicopter Service.
Current Knights NRL back-rower Brodie Jones, who is a Cessnock Goannas junior, and Knights NRLW squad member and 2023 NSW Under 19s State of Origin hooker Leah Ollerton, will both be at the ground to talk with players and sign autographs.
Click here for the Brodie Pearson Memorial 9s Facebook page.
