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Season Report2014

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Season Report 2014Table of Contents

Table of Contents

2014 Executive Committee...........................................................................................................................3Club Foundation Members...........................................................................................................................3Kevin O’Brien Memorial Award – ‘Obie’.......................................................................................................3Life Members................................................................................................................................................4Annual Awards..............................................................................................................................................5Bill Spaul Memorial Award – Clubperson of the Year...................................................................................5Premierships.................................................................................................................................................6Club Championships.....................................................................................................................................6Secretary’s Report........................................................................................................................................7under 6 Gold.................................................................................................................................................9under 6 Green.............................................................................................................................................11under 7 Gold...............................................................................................................................................13under 7 Green.............................................................................................................................................15under 8 Gold...............................................................................................................................................17under 8 Green.............................................................................................................................................19under 9s......................................................................................................................................................21under 10 Gold.............................................................................................................................................23under 11 Gold.............................................................................................................................................24under 11 Green...........................................................................................................................................25under 11 White...........................................................................................................................................28under 12 Gold.............................................................................................................................................29under 12 Green...........................................................................................................................................31under 13s....................................................................................................................................................33under 14 Gold.............................................................................................................................................35under 14 Green...........................................................................................................................................36under 15s....................................................................................................................................................38under 16s....................................................................................................................................................39under 17s....................................................................................................................................................40under 19s....................................................................................................................................................413rd Grade....................................................................................................................................................431st Grade....................................................................................................................................................44

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Season Report 2014Club History

2014 Executive Committee

President Justin HopperSenior Vice President Mark PurcellJunior Vice President Rick SinclairSecretary / Registrar Dave Cahill

Treasurer Steve Rogers

Club Foundation Members

1961 was the foundation year of Penshurst RSL Junior Rugby League Football Club.

The foundation members of Penshurst RSL JRLFC were:

Kevin O’BrienStan RootK. ClarkeI. Green

Rex Notley

Kevin O’Brien Memorial Award – ‘Obie’

The ‘Obie’ is awarded in recognition of continuous outstanding & dedicated service to Penshurst RSL Rugby League, and is only awarded above and beyond Life Membership.

The following people have been so recognised by the club:

Year ‘Obie’ Recipient2002 Rick Waters2003 Brian McCulloch2004 Max Simmons2008 Ken Harris

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Life Members

In recognition and appreciation of their hard work over an extended period of time, the following have been awarded life membership of Penshurst RSL Rugby League:

Year Life Members 1971 Kevin O'Brien Rex Notley1972 Stan Root 1975 Gorden Lowrie 1976 Leo Betts Ken Prentice1977 Lionel Barker Eric Ellis1978 Jack Gordon Ted Nielsen1979 Don Muir 1983 Col Burgess 1985 Tom Phillips Rick Waters1986 Anthony Barker Michael O'Brien1987 Ray Lillas Kevin Nieass1988 Rick Haywood Joe Arnold1989 Bill Hall 1992 Anthony Barnes Peter O'Sullivan1994 Chris Renshaw Max Simmons Brian McCulloch1995 Kevin Baxter1997 Geoff DeVaise 2000 Ian Bond2004 Graeme Hemopo Tony Grimaldi Ken Harris2006 Michael Baihn2013 Joshua Baihn

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Annual Awards

Each rugby league season, Penshurst RSL Rugby League recognises the efforts and achievements of its members and players with the presentation of a number of annual awards. Some are club based awards whereas others are team based. They include:

Bill Spaull Award Clubperson of the Year

Lionel Barker Award Coach of the Year

Tom Phillips Award Senior Players Clubman of the Year

Bob Barr Award Junior Players Clubman of the Year

Syd Davis Award Best On Field Achievement by a Junior Player (u6 to u15)

Mitchell Wykes Award Most valued team contribution by a senior player

Ken Prentice Award Most Dedicated ‘C’ Grade Player

Fred Neams Award Highest Try Scoring Forward in 'C' Grade

Mick Norris Award under 13s Players’ Player

Stan Root Award Best Defensive Player from the Under 10s

Jim Pittis Award Most Consistent Player from the Under 7s

Stirrers Award For the club member considered to be the biggest stirrer

Bill Spaul Memorial Award – Clubperson of the Year

Each year Penshurst RSL Rugby League rewards the outstanding commitment to the club during that year by one of its members. Recent Clubpersons of the year have been…

Year Clubperson of the Year2006 Darryn Springett2005 Kelly Campbell and Darren Campbell2004 Debby Lee2003 Darren Campbell2002 Martin Taylor2001 Ken Harris2000 Cathy Crowe1999 Narell Ralph1998 Denise Clapson1997 Geoff DeVaise1996 Graeme Hemopo

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Premierships

Penshurst RSL Rugby League’s success on the field is reflected in the premierships that it has won over the years:

Grade Premierships WonA 1988 1989 1993 2012b 2013 2014B 1975 1982 1983 1985 1986 1987 1992C (u19) 1974u 1975 1980 1981 1982u 1990 1993 1995 2006s 2014bD (17) 1973 1978 1986 2013bE (u16) 1966* 1971 1974 1977 1978 1980 1985 1988 2013cu15 1970 1973 1974 1976 1978 1999 2003 2007bu14 1969u 1973 1975 1976 1978 1998 2002u13 1970 1974u 1976 1977 1982 1997 2000b 2013bu12 1968 1975 1976 1986 1996 2013u11 1974u 1975u 1980 1982 1985 1995 2013 2014u10 1969u 1973 1979 2006Gr 2013u9 1970 1972u 1978 1984 1995 2005u Gru8 1969 1970 1971 1972u 1977u 1981 1996b 1997bu7 1970 1977 1980

Legend* Our 1st ever Premiership u Undefeated b B-Grade in that age group c C-Grade in that age group Gr Green teams South Sydney competition

Club Championships

Penshurst RSL has been Club Champions in the years:

Seniors 1970 1976 1980 1981 1985 1989 1991 2013 2014Juniors 1970 1971 1972 1973 1974 1976 1977 2012 2013 2014

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Season Report 2014Club Report

Club Report

2014 has been another outstanding year for Penshurst RSL JRLFC.

For the second year in a row, we have won both the Senior Club Championship and the Junior Club Championship. An amazing achievement for a club that prides itself on getting kids on the park to play a game of footy. That is why we have two sides in most of our junior grades and those sides are graded as evenly as possible.

We had 22 sides overall this season. Of that, 6 were playing Mini Footy, 7 were playing Mod Footy and 9 were playing SCC International footy. We had at least one side in every international age group, which definitely helps in the progression of players through the grades. It was also a massive achievement to have two A grade sides this season. This is the first time in our history that we have had two A grade sides.

Our 1st grade, under 13s and under 14greens all played in division 1 comps, our under 16s, under 17s and under 19s

all played in division 2 comps and our under 14golds, under 15s and 3rd grade sides all played division 3 comps. This reflects our policy of always grading teams in divisions to suit their ability to gain maximum development for each player.

We were successful in winning three premierships this season. Our under 11 greens made in back to back premierships with an 18-0 victory over Colts in the GF on Saturday morning at Jubilee. This was a top achievement from a team that is small in stature, but enormous in courage and skill.

That was followed by a Saturday afternoon blockbuster at Jubilee with our under 19s up against arch-rivals East Hills Bulldogs. After a very tough and old-fashioned GF, the Green and Golds came out victorious by 10-4. Then it was off to a ground from yesteryear. Lidcombe Oval hadn’t changed since the 70’s, but it was about to be invaded by a Green

and Gold army. Our 1st grade boys were there to play their arch-rivals, St George Dragons. St George had won two out of the three encounters including a narrow win in the major semi. The GF was a different story with Pensie dominating from the outset, before going on to record an emphatic 30-6 victory. Again, it was like Black Caviar running against Mister Ed.

Our under 13s were minor premiers in their division 1 comp, but were very gallant in defeat in their GF at Redfern Oval on the Sunday morning. We were all very proud of their efforts throughout the season.

2014 also was a fantastic one for our club at a Representative level. Matthew Dufty has well and truly established himself as one of the guns in the Holden Cup with the high-flying Dragons outfit and recently was rewarded with a two year extension of his contract. Matty played his first game of footy with the Rissoles back in 2000 as a 4 year old. We also had Nathan McIlveen, Daniel Ascoli and Thomas Garrido represent St George in the SG Ball competition. Nathan was rewarded for a great season receiving the Coach’s Award for this team. We also had Kieran Wyld representing the Dragons in the Matthews Cup team.

2014 was also a year that saw us make some significant changes down at our home ground, HV Evatt Park. The new tarp for the front of our canteen can be seen from outer space. This was proudly sponsored by Michael Ibrahim and family. Our second addition was a brand new electronic scoreboard and timer. No longer will we have coaches and spectators calling out to the table with those familiar words, “How long to go?”. This scoreboard was proudly sponsored by Noppen Air and Pryde Meats.

This leads in to thanking all of our fantastic sponsors. Penshurst RSL Club have been superb for us again and we thank them for their continued support that has run now for 54 seasons. We urge all parents and supporters to become members and support the RSL club that supports us. Mortgage Choice at Oatley, Professionals Real Estate, Noppen Air, Soil ‘n’Stuff, MJ Insurance, The Grind Mortdale and Pryde Meats have all been very generous to us and a major part of our on-going success. Again, we urge parents and supporters to support these businesses.

We have a great group of coaches, managers and trainers extending all the way through our club. These people look after all players from the youngest player in our under 6s to our veteran 1 st graders. Thanks to all of you for keeping us number one in this district.

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Season Report 2014Club Report

Finally, to all of our 350 odd players that have worn the Green and Gold so proudly this year. You have shown the spirit, fairness and courage that your Green and Gold jersey has meant to so many people before you. Well done. Each and every one of you has been a part of our joint club championships this year and we are proud of, and thankful to, all of you.

WHEN SPEAKING OF THE CHAMPIONS…………………………………….

The Committee

A huge thanks to President Trevor James, his Board of Directors, and Chris Hendley and his staff for the continuation of the 54 years of support that they have given our great club.

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Season Report 2014Team Reports

under 6 Gold

Season 2014 saw me return to the 6's age group for the 1st time since 2001. I was looking forward to getting back to the grass roots level and developing and mentoring the future of our club and I enjoyed every bit of it. Although testing at times it was a good learning curve and experience for myself and the players.

We had a young and inexperienced side in the Golds this year which was always going to be a challenge in itself, but the boys developed rather quickly which was pleasing to myself and all the parents & supporters. Throughout the year we played some good footy. The boys never gave up trying and were always smiling and at full time, they could not wait to sing the club song showing these boys have the club spirit inside already.

We finished the season with 3 great wins which was great but the most enjoyable thing was seeing the boys’ development/progression & the smile on the boys’ faces each week at training and on game days and just simply enjoying playing Rugby League for such a great club.

I would like to thank my trainer Craig for his ongoing support to me & the boys and Scott & Nader for their assistance throughout the season. They were always willing to lend a hand when ever asked & to my manager Katie for her efforts and organisation making my job as coach an easy one and ongoing support to myself and the team & organising treats for the boys (and coach) after each game and to my parents a big THANK YOU for all the support shown throughout the year to me. To the kids and the club you are truly all the best parents I have worked with and I'm sure we will remain good friends long into the future.

The Players…Hussein (Husky)

Hussein was in his 2nd year in the 6's although only 5 years of age he was our go to man with blinding speed and a great tackling technique, Hussein scored some great tries and pulled off numerous try saving tackles throughout the year & was the leader in the club song after each game.

Hussein (BIG H)Hussein was in his 1st year of rugby league and you would not have known , Hussien hit the ground running with his big runs and solid defence, also scoring some good tries and great defence all year round.

AidenAiden was another 1st timer & took a while to find his feet but once he did there was no stopping him with his big runs and good tackles and great service at dummy half & 1st receiver.

ByronAnother one in his 1st year of footy Byron gave good service from dummy half, Byron also offered a lot in attack with good runs and good defence & good support play to his team mates.

JairomeJai was in his 2nd year in the 6s age group and also still 5 years of age, Jai was by far the coolest kid on the team with his flash hair styles and his footy was like wise, big runs with good foot work and solid defence his goal kicking was good all year round.

JacobJacob was in his 3rd year for the 6s and his experience proved invaluable with his solid defence and strong runs week in and week out & scoring some great tries along the way.

DamienDamien was our youngest player in the team at 4 years of age but one of our biggest, Damo developed at a rapid rate throughout the season in both attack and defence, big tackles and great runs with a deadly fend.

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CooperCooper was in his 1st year of footy and was our dummy half for the majority of the season his service was great and his vision out of dummy half was great seeing him score a number of tries down the blindside , his defence improved throughout the season and his attack was solid.

Lastly I would like to thank the committee for another fantastic season and all their efforts for our kids, to my players and parents thank you for a memorable season I hope to see you back again next year.

Thank you all,Jason - Coach

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under 6 Green

What a good mob of kids!!

It was amazing to watch these kids develop over the year. Some of the improvements, changes and moments will be forever remembered. We carried only 7 players so never had a full team, which didn't matter at this age but meant we had to rely on the same kids every week. They did not disappoint.

When training began Axel and Ronan were 4 and Harry just turned 5. Is there such thing as a young Under 6s?!

There were many 'lightbulb' moments over the season. The two returning players benefitted from their experiences , their transformation and improvement from 2013 was amazing, becoming our two leaders on field, but never alone. All the first-time players showed major improvements in different facets of the game and at different times, from first tackles, first try or avoiding the touch-lines. Their co-ordination and general motor skill improvement was fun to watch. Each player possessed qualities that can see them become more than competent players in the future.

The development of a good defensive line against stronger and older opposition, and a willingness to tackle was exceptionally pleasing, and first time onlookers were often surprised at their ability to defend as a team. Yes there was star gazing, waving to mum as an attacker went past and a few 'suspect' injuries at times, but the general level of commitment, effort and resultant fun was awesome!

Massive thanks to assistant Rodney Van Schellebeck who attended every session, and whose help was invaluable and saved my sanity at times. Along with Matt and Andrew, especially while I was away at the end, and to all the parents, a massive thank you. We had no issues only support, which was fantastic.

The Players…Ronan O'Neill

Ronan is a future tough guy ! He loves the rough stuff in the middle and mixing with the bigger kids, a great sign for his age. His eager defence plus a developing attack saw him get across the line a few times. Very solid contribution for his age. Look out next year!

James FungaleiJames had an excellent first year. His attacking instincts combined with speed and footwork saw countless breaks and him cross the line numerous times. Once his defence stiffens he will be a standout in any team or competition. Very well mannered and most coachable.

Jireh StewartSome amazing performances. Not uncommon to see him crash tackle a runaway on the opposite side of the field 5 metres into touch. Combined with speed and incredible footwork he was an attacking and defensive force the whole year. Reminds me of a young Isaac Luke!

Harry SalmonNone more surprised than me of his improvement since last year. Harry had a fantastic year in both attack and defence. Consistently scored a bag of tries with speed, power or footwork and hated letting the opposition score, always chasing or covering if not tackling himself. His determination is a great trait for the future.

Lucas CoffeyA very good first year learning the game. Lucas has excellent speed and acceleration, and his numerous breaks, often in traffic, are a great sign for him. He was always eager and excited to be a part of the team. I expect him to be an even better player next year.

Axel Van SchellebeckThe junior amongst juniors! What we saw from Axel from start of year to end was extremely pleasing and augers so well for next year. Grasping the concepts took time, but the resultant defence, attack and palming off defenders were huge highlights. Loves to tackle in the ruck, a future number 8 no doubt!

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Emma WarrEmma is an excellent athlete, who moved the most gracefully through hats, ladders, defence and whatever obstacles presented. She scored a few excellent tries through the year. A good first up year learning the demands of the game, Emma will really benefit and come back even better.

Mark SalmonCoach

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under 7 Gold

2014 has been a very rewarding season for myself and the U7 Gold team. As a rookie Coach, I had a very steep learning curve, but I had the support of some great people and have learnt a lot. The most enjoyable part of this season has been watching the kids develop their skills as football players and seeing them come together as a team and play for each other.

We had more wins than losses this season (not that anyone is counting), we had lots of laughs and lots of cheers and thankfully not too many tears.

I have many people to thank for their support this season, Firstly, a big thanks goes to my Team Manager Anthony Scott, Trainer Fady Eid and Con Bastas who was always there and happy to help out at training. A huge thank you also to Peter Bastas who filled in on the field during matches while I was recovering from shoulder surgery. I appreciate all your efforts, Thank you.

Thank you too to Justine, Jackson and Joel for all your support during the season. You were always more than happy to run me around to matches (whilst I was recovering from shoulder surgery), help out with training and on game days - all without a complaint and always with a smile on your faces. Thank you!

Also, I cannot forget all the parents, grandparents, aunties, uncles, brothers, sisters, cousins, friends and families who brought the kids to training and were there to cheer the boys on at games. Your support makes all the difference. It has been an honour and a privilege to coach these boys this year...thank you!

The Players…Jack 'George' Warr

One of the veterans of our team. Jack is one of the smallest players on the team but what he lacks in stature, he makes up for in heart. Jack's enthusiasm and love for the game makes him a very valuable member of this team. Jack reads the game well and is always there for his team mates. He is dangerous with the ball and made many good tries this season. His defensive game really developed towards the end of the season. He made one of the best front on tackles this season with a player who was more than twice his size - this was a try-saver for sure! Jack has a good football mind for his age and I look forward to watching him develop his game further in the future. Great effort George, thank you!

Thomas EirthThomas would have to be our rookie find of the year. A strong player in both attack and defence, Thomas consistently gave 100% this year. He has a good tackling technique, is very fast on his feet and is a good support player who has a good game sense. Thomas was our highest try scorer this year and always proved to be a handful for our opposition. A rising star, well done Thomas on a fabulous season!

Hassan EidHassan is another of our rookies this year. Hassan is a larger than life character who always has a huge smile on his face and is overflowing with passion for the game. He approached training and games with so much enthusiasm, he was an absolute joy. Hassan always gave 100% and it was so nice to watch him develop as both a team player and footy player this season. He is very fast and is always first up in attack putting lots of pressure on the opposition. Well done Hassan on a great season!

Nicholas BastasMr Enthusiasm! A great team player who always had a smile and an encouraging word for his team mates. Nicholas started slow but certainly ended the season at a fast pace with good support play in both attack and defence. It was a pleasure to watch Nicholas develop his playing skills during the season and to see him grow in confidence. Awesome effort Nicholas!

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Phoenix GodinetOur speed man! With a cheeky grin and speed to burn, Phoenix was one of our main 'go to' guys this year. Very strong in attack, Phoenix has a great step and the ability to carve up the opposition every time he has the ball in his hands. He was also one of our highest try scorers. Phoenix is also very solid in defence and was quite often our 'last line of defence' and made many try saving tackles. Phoenix also reads the game very well. A player to watch, congratulations Phoenix on a great season!

Jackson WesleyMr Reliable! Jackson is another of our good all-round players he is solid in attack, defence and support play. Jackson made many good runs this season with his size and speed making it difficult for the opposition to stop him. He was another player that started slow, but it didn't take him too long to find his straps. He is developing into a good solid football player. Well done Jackson, keep up the good work!

Jack BrennanAnother of our rookie players. Jack had a slow start to the season but early on proved to be a very solid defensive player. Jack has a great cover run and was able to force many opposition players over the side line. His tackling also developed over the season and coupled with his speed in defence, he was able to pull off some great try saving tackles at crucial times. He is also fast in attack and many times was able to make valuable ground. It was great to see Jack grow in confidence in both himself and his footy skills this season. He reads the game well and he is very solid at the back. Congratulations Jack and remember to always believe in yourself!

Edro UkarangiThe quiet achiever! Edro is very quietly spoken and may not have a lot to say, but he certainly makes up for that with his skills and determination on the field. Edro is developing into an all-rounder with good skills in both attack and defence. He has been a pleasure to coach this year. Fantastic season Edro, well done!

Liam ScottThe Entertainer! Armed with a big smile and an equally big heart, Liam always gave his all at both training and on game days. It was a pleasure to watch this young man grow in confidence and to develop his skills as a football player. He was another player that started slow but he certainly had momentum coming into the end of the season. Very solid and reliable in attack. He was my 'go to' guy for making metres up the field. Great season Liam, congratulations.

Wishing all players and supporters a happy and safe off season and look forward to seeing all the boys back next season.

Trish BellCoach

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under 7 Green

We won plenty, drew a couple and lost a few but always gave our best. The u7 Greens are a bunch of Silly Chickens who gave a little bit of cheek but were an absolute delight to coach.

With great camaraderie and some real talent I look forward to watching the boys develop as footy players in the years ahead.

The Players…Kye Duck

Solid in defence and with a head jink and side step that would rival Benji’s best Kye came on in leaps and bounds this year. Unfortunately, Kye’s season was cut short by an off field accident which was a real shame given how much he had improved. Big things are expected next season.

Jacob MatengaImproving week after week as his confidence grows. Always well behaved Jacob is getting more involved each week increasing his involvement in defence and capped off his year with a brilliant solo try.

Samuel Morgan

I am not sure what he did over the June long weekend but the ‘Wingman’ returned from the break a different player. After a relatively slow start to the season Sam evolved into one of our best over the second half of the season. Saving countless tries and scoring a few himself, Sam was a vital cog in the side.

Oscar O’NeillOur leading try scorer Oscar built well on last year’s breakout season. Oscar has developed a real knack for finding the try line and has good ‘footy smarts’ which often put him in the right position to take advantage as opportunities present themselves. Eager to be involved, particularly in attack, Oscar has the makings of a good on field general.

Christopher ShepherdAn absolute pleasure to coach, Christopher was always eager and attentive. In his first year of footy Chris built nicely as the season progressed and has become a valuable member of the team.

Jackson SpencerAnother first timer, Jackie went really well. As his confidence grew so too did his involvement. Eager to help out in defence, Jackie was even more willing to get his hands on the ball. His first ever try scored at Jubilee will stick in the memory for some time to come.

Jamal TaefuJamal was awesome this year. Having not played the game before one might have expected Jamal to take some time to find his feet. Well, to his coach’s surprise he was on top of it from the start. With a big heart and fierce determination Jamal saved numerous tries and scored plenty himself. Jamal promises to be some player.

Jaxson Te PuniThis kid is going places. With the best defensive technique in the competition and a running style that makes him difficult to stop Jaxson again led by example. I look forward to claiming the kudos when he makes his first grade debut in the years ahead.

With 17 boys registered to play Under 7’s this season a decision to split the teams was made early on. This allowed the boys to get plenty of game time but did leave us a little short at times, particularly when injuries and sickness hit. Thankfully we could always rely on a few of the U6 boys to help us out and I would like to make special mention of Harry Salmon, Ronan O’Neill and Jireh Stewart for their efforts.

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Also, a big thank you to Trish Bell who stepped up to take over the U7 Gold side and who was only too happy to help out at various times during the year.

I had a great year with the boys and appreciate the support from all the parents, many of whom stepped in at various times to lend a hand. Special thanks to my co-coach Richard Morgan, our manager Nicole Spencer and Melissa Duck our first aid officer. Your help is greatly appreciated, you certainly reduced (at least temporarily) the number of grey hairs on my head.

I would also like to thank the Committee for their support and look forward to season 2015.

Go to the Mighty Rissoles!

Dean O’NeillCoach

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under 8 Gold

This was my first season with these boys and what a great and challenging experience it was. We had some very easy wins, some good tough wins and a couple of defeats which taught us all a few lessons. These boys are ready to make the transition to Mod footy and with more work on playing a proper structure, they will be very hard to beat in the future.

The Players…Mitchell Woods

A very talented footballer. Mitch is great on his feet with fantastic speed. Can organise a team on the field like someone much older. A big future ahead.

Ilangana (Malachai) FinauMal is one of the hardest working players on the field in both attack and defence that I have seen. A very hard tackler and fast and elusive runner. Great season Mal.

Makaiya KoopuMakaiya is a big, strong boy and he is starting to realise how good he can be. A very powerful runner with a top offload and hard defender. Will have a great 2015 in Mod.

Takerei Barden Te-AmohangaIn his first season with Penshurst, Taks showed a lot of ability in both attack and defence. He possesses a good, hard running game and solid defence.

Thomson WrightThommo is a real speedster that is very good in getting into the right position to score a try. He is also becoming a tough and reliable defender. Leading try scorer in 2015 ? Maybe.

Wesley PoluteleWes is a hard no-nonsense player that will take on any opponent and give them everything. Strong runner and even stronger tackler. Loads of potential.

Kane McCarrenKane was close to the most improved player in the club. Started off quietly, but by the end of the season, he was organising, tackling and running like a future star. Good job, mate.

Zachary NobregaAny coach would be delighted to have a team full of players like Zac. He always listens and works on what is needed. Developed into a very reliable player. Another looking towards a strong 2015.

Dylan Devoy PainoDylan was another big improver throughout the season. His running game started getting much better and that added to his strong defence. Good work, Dylan.

Zaim YaghiZaim is, potentially, a very good player of the future. He has a strong and powerful running game with good speed and a tough, reliable defensive game. Keep working, Zaim.

I would firstly like to give a big thanks to my co-coach, Tatana Koopu for all his dedication throughout the season, both at training and on game days. It was always going to be hard to juggle two teams and thanks to Tat, it was possible. Thanks as well to Anthony Paino for your assistance.

To our managers, Trevor and Patrina McCarren, a big thanks for all that you both did throughout the season. It is always easier to come to a game knowing that all the off-field things will be taken care of.Thanks as well to the parents for being a very understanding and supportive group of people. These boys are a credit to you all.

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Finally, to a great group of boys. There is so much potential in this team and now we are getting into Mod footy with the bigger field, I believe that this will show next year. I am honoured to be part of your footballing lives this year and would love to see you all back in 2015.

Dave CahillCoach

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under 8 Green

Another great year with this top bunch of little rissoles! Getting better as time goes on. This season these kids proved themselves to be the form side. Even though it was non-competitive, I think someone forgot to tell these guys. It was very pleasurable for both me and my co-coach Darren Smith to watch week in week out as they excelled with confidence and skill beyond their years. Organisation & repetitive drills all season paid off with putting them into their favoured positions to make the game work and run rings around most teams. We are quite confident that next year the transition to Mod league will be an easy one for these guys.

The Players…Jacob Lo

Played this season with his heart on his sleeve. A great little dummy half and boy this kid can run. If there is gap he is gone!

Adam NachabehVery big heart on this little guy getting better as his confidence grows.

Matthew ScottBecoming an absolute powerhouse in defence and his skills are developing week after week. Not afraid to take on the bigger guys in defence or attack with nice straight runs.

Brody DuckI don’t think I have seen speed like what this boy has. He is like lightning! Playing on the outer flanks didn’t get to see much ball this year but when he did no one was catching him. An absolute pleasure to coach.

Jayden GreyThis boy is giant. So strong I don’t think he actually got pulled down in attack all year. Will grow into a great forward. With the defensive ability to take on any other player who comes up against him.

Taylah NoppenJust as last season she is everywhere all the time always first up in the defensive line with hard tackles. Very unselfish player looking for support and opportunities to get the metres required to get points on the board.

Lewis HuntGrowing into a bit of a grub on the field always niggling in the ruck but he backs it up in play. Playing in the halves proved to be an asset to the team feeding the ball to where it needed to go. Always up in there for defence and plays his little heart out week in week out.

Samuel BashallI think we unleashed a “MONSTER” This guy plays hard starting this year he took to our beautiful like a duck to water taking on a forward role he seems to be everywhere in defence and I feel sorry for who is in front of him in attack. This boy is one to watch great potential for the future.

Ethan FouriePlaying at full back this kid is everything to this team he is the last line of defence and pulls off tackle after tackle to save tries weekly. He is another one to watch in the future. Everything from hit ups off loads and tries an absolute gem of a kid.

Jackson Cahill-SmithWithout any doubt the best player in this age bracket averages three to four tries per game & lethal when it comes to defense. Jacks would have to be the mesh that holds this team together on and off the field. An absolute asset to the club!

I would like to express my thanks to all the families of these great kids for giving me the honour of coaching this great team.

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In closing I would like to take this opportunity to thank Darren Smith my co coach, Juan Fourie FAO and Maxine Noppen, manager, for their efforts this season. Also, Paul Noppen and Justin Hopper for their invaluable advice. Yet another season done can’t wait for next year. GLORY GLORY TO THE RISSOLES!

Robert HuntCoach

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under 9s

Place Played Won Draw Lost Bye For Against Diff Points8 15 4 0 11 0 266 514 -248 10

A fantastic season of learning and growth. We had a number of achievements by all of the boys that probably exceeded our expectations. Even though we had only 4 wins, there were a number of games where we were very competitive and only a few tackles shy of securing the win. We had probably the best structured attack in the competition and best developed and effective kicking game. Our big opportunity for next year is to work on making that one last tackle that will win the game. They tried to the very last in every game and I congratulate them on their guts and determination. A great group of boys who were a pleasure to be around, they showed great team spirit which will put us in a great position to go even further next year. Hope to see them all back in 2015. Below I’ve listed the achievement or growth that each boy achieved throughout this year.

The Players…Dimitri Antonio

Learnt more about being part of team and filled in different positions to help other players out.

Terry BallisKnows his pace and uses it very well. Smart running and use of the side line enabled him to score many tries this year. Also has a good passing game.

Dylan CarrLearnt about the role of a half back, organised the players to play to your game plan. Practiced his kicking game to perfection.

Kane ConnollyShowed Great Spirit and never say die attitude which often led to him chasing down and tackling the “Big Guys” when they made a break.

Christopher DinorisWas integral in getting good ball from Dummy Half. Made some great runs from Dummy half and for a little guy was very strong in defence.

Noah FiorettiFirst year of Rugby League and is a natural. Led from the front in both defence and attack.

Hudson HattonUnderstood the importance of positional play. One of our outside backs was always in position to tackle the wide runner or receive the ball for a run.

Richard JacksonTackled tirelessly and very solidly from front on was always there to take the “hit up.”

Lachlan MorganKnows that he has a simple job and that is to run straight. He made plenty of breaks and metres gained because of this.

Kobe PepeneRealised how fast and strong he actually is. Used this to break tackles and put himself in a scoring position several times.

Mitchell PooleContinued to work on his tackling technique as well as running good lines with the ball made him hard to stop.

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Jackson WillettHis marker defence put a lot of pressure on the other side and made it hard for them to get a roll on. Pull off some big hits during the year.

Sean WillettCoach

A big thanks to Sean at Mortgage Choice, Oatley for his on-going sponsorship.

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under 10 Gold


On behalf of coaching and management, I would like to thank all of the boys for such a memorable season.

Although we didn’t reach the semi-finals this year, our success as a team has been reflected in other ways. For those of you lucky enough to have watched these boys play, you know exactly what I’m talking about. Their improvement from the start of the season has been something all of us are very proud to have been a part of.

As a coach I couldn’t be prouder of the boys and their efforts throughout the year. Up until this season I had only experienced coaching senior football teams and wasn’t sure what to expect. Looking back now I’m glad that I made the decision to get back into coaching and would like to thank Scotty for making it happen.

Message to the “Boys”: We still have a lot to learn and I hope to see you all again next year. Always remember the F word (Focus) and the rest of your game becomes fun.

“Who do we fight for… PENSHURST! Who do we play for… EACH OTHER!”

A big thanks to Emjay Insurance Brokers for their ongoing support

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under 11 Gold

Place Played Won Draw Lost Bye For Against Diff Points5 14 6 1 7 0 294 290 4 17

The under 11’s golds had a good year overall, we started off slow, losing some really close games which costed us a place in the semi-finals, Overall there was a bit of improvement from 2013 and the boys should be proud of their achievements to date.

The Players…Bilal Abdelwahab

Great Season, lots of courage, gave his all in every training session which translated into high quality on field performances. Keep up the good work.

James PoluteleCome along way this season, his attitude changed dramatically and one of the most devastating ball runners in the U11’s competition. Lifts the team spirit, the best is yet to come.

Jack LukeJoined the team midway through, played with the boys last year, has speed to burn, lots more room for improvement.

Keiran BeadonDevastating ball runner, great defender, trains extra hard which is evident in his on field performance. Well done, keep up the good work.

Michael ChristofisTried hard with lots more room for improvement, his tackling improved this year.

Andre De SilvaTried hard, but needs to think more positively. Overall achieved his personal goals.

Lachlan KingLots of potentially, but needs to divert his thinking to a more positive thought process. Overall good season.

Zak Abou-KanjGood year, however at times went into his shell. Overall has a lot to offer.

Jason GiamoukoglouStarted off slow, but finished off the season strong. Needs to change his thought process to reflect positive outcomes.

Chris ThaemboonGreat Defender, but needs to work on running with the ball. Overall great comeback.

Jayden MaakarounGreat leadership qualities, trained hard, never complained, encourages the boys. Well done on a great season.

A Special Thanks to Our Manager Sally, Our trainers John, Rav & Omar, and all the parents who helped out when we needed them.

Coach.Wally

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under 11 Green


Finals ResultsMinor Semi-Final vs Penshurst RSL White Won 18-6Preliminary Final Vs Hurstville United Won 22-12

Grand Final v. Kingsgrove Colts Won 18-0

One of the most feared and dominant teams in the St George under 11s Competition – Penshurst RSL Green. An amazingly talented group of kids who on their own merit, strive and push immensely to achieve great outcomes week in week out, and play to the best of their ability, ALWAYS in good spirit and fairness.

We started the year off tough with 5 injuries, including 2 serious ones leaving us for half the season, limiting us to minimal players for games, however the camaraderie confined within this team is too strong to be held down by these negative factors. The boys always turn up to train or play regardless and pushed every time and for each other when playing for us. This year saw the inclusion of 2 new players to the 2013 Premiership Winning side. The 2 new players fit right in considering they knew many other boys making the start of the season and transition to the team seamless.

The team efforts and courage against extremely bigger and aggressive oppositions was astonishing. We played many close games throughout the year that result wise didn’t go our way, but the determination was always there to continue and we were never in doubt. Once being consistently able to have a full compliment, it showed everyone that our run to secure back to back premierships was no fluke or by any means lucky and was earned through commitment and dedication to me, the other coaching staff and those playing with and for each other.

This year’s semi-final series had us play the first week in a minor semi final due to finishing the competition 3 rd. Our opposition – Penshurst White, an extremely tough team who had it on us throughout the regular season made for a tough, hard fought battle between 2 very strong competitive sides. However the boys showed a great display seeing us get through 18-6, keeping them scoreless in the second half.

The following week – the GF qualifier, had us up against the Hurstville Juggernauts. Size and strength has always been their key and being one of our closer rivals had us raring to go. No one had us at a chance against this team, apart from ourselves. And the Grit and Determination to knock them off at this stage was a great effort by the boys! Beating them 22-12, showed everyone how serious we were for a back to back effort.

Grand final day - against Kingsgrove. No other team in the whole competition had been able to beat them through the regular competition, EXCEPT for us! Physically we were ready more than ever and mentally had the confidence from doing it before. However, no one was expecting us to blow them off the park. A side never kept scoreless in their Mod years, held convincingly and strongly to an 18-0 score line in a grand final, see us crowned the 2014 u11 Premiers and the securing a BACK TO BACK PREMIERS title...Great Work Boys !!

The Back 2 Back Premiers are…Oliver Harris

One of our new additions to the team and even to a club playing rugby league would not of guessed as such. A very strong runner of the ball and a strong tackler along with his height advantage saw him find a home in the second row. A great open long distance that showed immensely, caused problems for oppositions always. Great Work Olly.

Chris JeromeChris (Aka Herbie) improved on his defence out of sight this season that was an extremely valuable utility player for the team. Was always able to play in any position and nail it, a great all round player that always gave it his all. Nice Job Herbie.

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Nicholas SkokandicOne half of our “dynamic duo” centres. Nicholas had gone to new levels in his game this season and the results had shown. Finishing the season with the most tries scored – 16, he also improved his defence along with lightning speed made him one of the lethal centres in the comp. Nice!

Ryan MulhollandThe other half of the “dynamic duo” centres. Ryan our vice captain, had a pleasantly consistent season. Scoring 10 tries and kicking 8 goals made combined with experienced defensive decisions and technique a handful for all oppositions. Good Work Ryan.

Jordan PooleOne of the most humble and giving young kids I know. Never complains in the slightest about the team and is always willing to do anything for it. An excellent defender from the wing that can hold his own even in the middle or at the back. An all round great player.

Te Wehi WaitereFinding the right spot position wise for T was always the task for me as a coach. Could play anywhere and do it well. Fullback was always the look for him and our GF showed the amazing talents that he had. A great defender, lightning quick and a lethal Tuivasa-Sheck step had defenders grasping at air. Great Job T.

Zachary HendersonOur Captain and halfback. It’s very difficult to be the one that doesn’t have all the runs and glory of the tries, however is humble enough to be the one to set them up! Worked hard all year improving his tactical kicking and defensive game to help the team in every way. Always a target in opposition eyes but never backed down. A very professional display all year, Great Work Zac.

Cejay ConnollyOur “Man Of Steel” up front. We may not have the biggest forwards, but my gosh do we have some of the strongest! No matter how many tackles he made, or how many times he ran the ball he would keep doing it. Always gave it 110% for all that he had and never wanted to give anything less, a true Champion. Top job Ceej.

Jack IrwinProbably the smallest player in the competition. But one of those with the biggest ticker in the team. No matter how big, small, fast or strong, he’d always put his body on the line to get the job done. A damn courageous display especially in the GF getting pummelled by Paul, but showing his worth and fearless attitude mere minutes later. A great Season Jack.

Joseph EliasAlso known as the “wrecking ball”, Joseph was our most strongest go to man. His strength for an 11 year old was outstanding and unbelievable and although once again not the biggest prop, definitely made opposition forwards look like nothing. Strong display Joseph, Keep it up!

Jacques FourieA reliable player that has been with the team since the u6s. Can hold his own against the bigger opposition forwards but always willing to get into the gritty stuff when push comes to shove. A good running game making him an all round forward for the team. Keep it up Jacques.

Dylan ManiThe “All Rounder”. Dylan has the ability to play anywhere in the forwards, dummy half and even halfback. Can really turn on the defence when he wants and had a great display of defence in the Grand Final showing no weakness and giving it his all. Has good hands for a forward and our leading goal scorer with 14 and 1 missed for the year. Definitely a reliable player we couldn’t do without. Good Work Dylan.

Jayden SamraniWe almost missed out on the return of Jayden and glad we didn’t! Jayden improved his running and passing game out of sight this year and really impressed. However, nothing moreso than his defence, making him an extremely more confident defender that I can’t wait to work with next season. Great Work Jayden.

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Kurt LeesonAn outstanding worker that has improved beyond leaps and bounds. Kurt has become one of the stronger attacking forwards with his size and footwork at the line fooling many opposition players. My highlight is his 50m runaway effort on GF day securing the game for us. Outstanding Job Kurt, Keep it up !

Ben LissonOur other new player to join the team this year. Ben become of great value with his size and strength in the front row. We worked well together to improve some key areas and he came through absolutely outstanding. A strong hitter with bone crushing effects, makes me excited to work with him again next year. Good Job Ben.

I cannot express my excitement and how proud each and every one of you boys made me this year and to see the great mateship and friendships formed with everyone in the team. I cannot stress that the result of this season comes down to your attitudes with each other and the way you all worked hard with everything I asked of you. This attitude is what will get you to persevere in life and become great at everything you do.

Furthermore, I’d like to greatly thank all the people that assisted me this year - Scott Henderson (Trainer), Jody Skokandic (Trainer), Damian Poole (Trainer), Marty Irwin (FAO) and Amanda Mani (Manager). Without such, would be impossible to do what I love so easily. I’d like to additionally thank Marty for his acquisition of many indoor training facilities over the finals series to help the team out in need !

I’d also like to thank all the parents for all their support and faith in me as a coach. It would’ve been near impossible to do it otherwise. Also for their positive encouragement on and off the field and especially in the Grand Final – YES WE HEARD YOU !!!

I now look forward onto next year for the u12 Greens for yet another strong, determined and committed year as a team for season 2015 and hope to see you all return and join me on another rollercoaster year !!!

Joel ManiCoach

2014 Premiers celebrate their victory.

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under 11 White


Finals ResultsMinor Semi-Final vs Penshurst RSL Green Lost 6-18

The Players…

Daniel BelcheffJack Carey

Hamzah ChamiHarrison Hicks

Benjamin LawlerPhillip Livanos

Daniel LoLiam McKenzie

Jack MirfinEthan Moschoudis

Tom PitkethleyKymani SmithHarrison Uden

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under 12 Gold


Finals ResultsMinor Semi-Final vs Penshurst RSL Green Lost 20-22

2014 has been a very good season that came to an unfortunate end. We had again been one of the top sides all season, but in the final round, with the minor premiership on the line, a major injury to one of our best players caused more than a few dramas.

We finished 3rd and had to play our club mates in the knockout semi. They came with a great game plan and executed it well. After having another top player wrongly dismissed for the entire game, we fought back gallantly to just miss by 2 points. Congrats to the Greens.

The Players…Harrison Farr

Breakout season for Harry in his new position of fullback. He showed great speed in attack, especially from kick returns, to score many tries. Harry was also great in cover defence, stopping many tries. Was a major loss when injured in the last game.

Lachlan ThomasIn his first season of rugby league, Lachie showed that he is a natural footballer that has loads of potential. He has good speed, great footwork and the ability to be in the right place in attack. Defence continues to improve.

Declan HicksOne of the most reliable and versatile players around. Declan can play almost every position and is affective in all of them. He has very good hands and deceptive footwork and speed. Solid and reliable defender.

Liam CreminAn excellent season from a player destined for further in this sport. Liam is fit, strong and fast and possesses skills that are improving constantly. Although a very fast and damaging runner, Liam’s defence started to shine as the season went on.

Ky JamesIn his first season with Penshurst, Ky took a while to settle in, but when he did, he became a very damaging forward for us. Ky is a strong runner with a good offload and nice pace. His defence is strong and reliable.

Mathew GiffordAnother very good season from one of the best broken field runners I have ever seen. Mat has fantastic speed off the mark and dazzling footwork and led him to our leading try scorer again. Very tough defender as well, despite his lack of size.

John DuftyOur captain and on-field leader, Johnny had another very strong season. He has a fantastic all-round game combining accurate kicking, great passing, elusive running and reliable defence. A leader of the future.

Anthony DaherThe “Bull” is our forward leader and one of the best forwards in the age group. Anthony is a very dedicated and inspirational team player that leads from the front with his bullocking runs and bone-jarring defence. A coach’s dream.

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Jordan DenyerAnother very solid season for a skilful and reliable footballer. Jordy is our dummy-half and, as always, has given great service from there. He is a very hard worker that keeps on improving in all facets of the game.

Jonas CoelhoAnother playing his first season of rugby league, Jonas showed that he is a player of enormous potential and has an exciting future in front of him. He is a very hard running forward with a good offload. Strong defence as well

Jackson FunnellJackson has had another strong season in all areas of the game. He has a very good and hard running game and a hard, reliable tackling style. Jackson continues to improve every match with the hard work he puts in.

Daniel NaderDan has one of the best attitudes towards his footy that I have been involved with. He is always working as hard as possible to improve every aspect of his game. He is an improving runner and very reliable defender. All with a smile on his face.

Tyson Dunn“Krusty” made a reluctant, but very successful transition from fullback to lock this season. He is another player that can cover almost every position and play them all well. Tyson is a player with vast potential to go a long way in footy.

I would also like to thank the under 11s players that helped us out during the season - Billy, Keiran and Jayden from the golds, Liam from the whites and Zac from the greens.

A big thanks to Daniel aka “Esky” for all his help at training and to our team staff – Duck, Jason and Trish.

Finally, I would like to thank all the boys for being a great group of players to coach for the last three years. You boys have shown a lot of ability and courage to be so successful for so long. Thanks to each and every one of you.

I will leave you with a direct quote from the premiership-winning Brighton coach. “Thankfully someone else beat your guys (Penshurst Gold) because we wouldn’t have”.

Dave Cahill (Coach)

A big thanks to Terry, Katina and staff at The Grind Coffee Shop at Mortdale for their great support.

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under 12 Green


Finals ResultsMinor Semi-Final vs Penshurst RSL Gold Won 22-20Preliminary Final vs Renown United Lost 8-18

The Players…

Manaia Waitere (five-eight and captain)Jake Cutajar (second-row)

Jayden Elazzi (winger)Jack Williams (half-back)

Sam Pezzutti (centre)Max Ferguson (prop)Nathan Fahd (hooker)

Jacob Sarkis (second-row)Jacob Turk (lock)

Ethan Hoskins (centre)Mike Ellazar (fullback)Riley Jackson (winger)Pete Pohahua (prop)Dylan De Leon (prop)

There were quite a few changes from the 2013 team, we lost Billy Adams (to soccer) and Connor McSweeney (retirement) but gained Dylan- in his debut season, Max – back after a 5 year stint playing footy in New Zealand, Nathan – debut season and Jacob Sarkis - import from the Canterbury comp.

Despite having a 14 man squad we were often missing players throughout the season and we regularly called on some under 11’s players. In particular I would like to thank Jordan Poole and Nick Skokandic who I called upon so often, when we didn’t need them some of the boys still asked where were they and why weren’t they playing.

After missing the finals in 2013 the boys were pretty keen to finish in the top four in 2014. The season started fairly well with 2 wins followed by a narrow loss to favourites Renown during school holidays where we were missing plenty of players and played the match with 10 men. We then beat the teams we should have and lost to the heavy weights in Brighton and Penshurst Gold. A window to what our season could be was the round 7 match against Colts. And to say the view was ugly was an understatement. Colts rumbled right through the middle of us and left the coach with plenty to work on at training.

Fortunately, we had a season where we missed no training or matches to weather and I had a very dedicated bunch of boys who always turned up to training and worked very hard. I also had a well-respected coaching staff in Bob Jackson and Ivan Cutajar who worked tirelessly with the boys to make sure they perfected our basic plays and worked on some new moves as well. I would also like to thank Harry Carr from the under 14’s who helped out at training as well.Our season would eventually hinge on the second last game of the minor premiership against Kingsgrove Colts. The winner would secure the last semi-final spot. As it happened we matched them in the forwards and our pace and skill out wide was too much for them to handle.

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The finals took on a whole new complexion in 2014, Brighton and Renown were the new heavy weights and Penshurst green and gold had to play the 3rd vs 4th knockout semi-final. We had never beaten the gold team in 3 seasons and 4 matches. The semi was in a way our Grand Final and fittingly it was played at Kogarah Jubilee Oval. And what a game!We posted 4 first half tries in what was our finest first half of footy for two seasons against the one team we had never beaten (unfortunately we could only convert one try). But as usual the gold team were never beaten until the final siren and they produced a classic second half comeback, right down to needing to convert their last try(after the siren) to force the game into extra-time. Fortunately they missed from out-wide and the boys and fans went berserk, 22-20 the final score.

But hold the phone, the official scorers had not recorded our first try and they had the scores 20-18 gold’s way and they were adamant “how could four people at the official table miss a try”. Fortunately we had President Justin Hopper, former president Paul O’Loughlin and opposition coach and club secretary Dave Cahill on our side and somehow they managed to convince the official table that they had missed a try, thankyou gentlemen. Unfortunately, Renown was too strong for us in the final, despite our best efforts, their 8 man bench and “Floyd” was just too good on the day. It was still an outstanding season, one in which the boys can be very proud of their efforts.

With regard to the individual players, it’s a team game and everyone made crucial contributions throughout the season both in defence and attack. Our style of play was to create space for our pace out wide and this we did consistently well.

It is always hard to choose three players from a team for the awards, but I felt Nathan Fahd in his first season of footy made it look like he had been playing the game for 5 years with the way he handled the dummy-half roll and was always strong in defence in the middle of the field and was my choice for the most improved award. While Jacob Turk has always given 100 percent on the field of play, this season he seemed to be doing the work of two players on a regular occasion especially when we were missing crucial players, and in my eyes he was the obvious choice for the coaches award. Finally, the best and fairest goes to Manaia Waitere. Every team team needs a gifted leader and in Manaia we have one of the very best. He doesn’t say too much. His method is “follow me and do as I do”. His fearlessness in defence and brilliant footwork, sleight of hand and speed in attack always has the coaching staff, fans and his team mates gobsmacked.

This means I cannot find an award for Mike or Jake. Even I can’t believe that. Both were integral to our team’s success and were a pleasure to coach. Their attitude to training was outstanding. Mikes all-round game was irreplaceable especially with ball in hand. Jake lead the teams defence with the broadest of shoulders, so much so, opposition forwards regular started running 2 or 3 wide to avoid the middle of the ruck where Jake lurked.

Riley and Jayden were our wingers and while they rarely got the ball in attack, when they did, they always surprised the opposition with elusive pace and regularly turned 5 metre runs into 15-20. Their defence is what I loved, standing on the wing they were usually isolated but despite not being the biggest of wingers, always put the body on the line to make the tackle.

Ethan and Sam were our centres with pace to burn and the fans watched in awe as these two racked up try after try running outside Manaia as he spent his season putting these two into gaps and space out wide. Jack was the half-back steering the backs and forwards around the field giving great service to Manaia and Mike, and plenty of lip-service to the refs. Max was much needed muscle in the middle of the field, his dynamic running game always created the space for our outside backs. Jacob Sarkis and Pete always ran hard in the middle of the ruck and never shirked the defence when we needed it. Dylan in his first season of footy learnt quickly and always gave it his best shot.

Finally, a big thank you to Ivan Cutajar (head trainer), Bob Jackson (manager/assistant trainer), these two men were a massive help to me throughout the season and I am sure the players would agree they were a great help to them as well. Thanks to the many fathers who helped out during the season and to all the parents who got the boys to training and matches.

Dan Williams (coach)

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under 13s


Finals Results (Div. I)Minor Semi-Final vs Newtown Junior Jets Lost 12-30Preliminary Final vs Coogee-Randwick Wombats Won 28-10

Grand Final vs Newtown Junior Jets Lost 6-34

It was always going to be hard process merging to good footy teams in to one great side in their 1st season of international football, but the boys did a fantastic job

making into the grand-final. The Penshurst U/13's joined the division one Sydney Combined Competition with little knowledge of what to expect. There was talk of a

number of unbeaten sides that would be a problem for us however by the start of the semi-final series our little team had gone right through to be the undefeated minor

premiers. There were a number of disruptions to our preparation and unfortunately we were defeated in the semi and grand final by our own poor handling and a very good

side in Newton Jets.It was a shame to go down after a great year knowing that we had the team to go all

the way, but we know that the boys will back to go one better next year.To all the players that put themselves on the line week in and week out at training and

on game day, myself and all of the coaching staff thanks you for your efforts and hope that next year will be a bigger and better year. Thanks guys you made the club

very proud this year. Well done.The Players:

Ali Kansou / Captain Sidney Noppen / Vice Captain

Tyler Ah Chong Matthew Borg Jake Boskovski

Jonathan Dinoris Jerry Fanos

Athan Giannakopoulos Jacob Graniero Tyler Hopper

Tyson Ibrahim David Knox

Jamie Lawler Tim Maier-Sotiropoulos

Keenan McLean Tyreece Nguyen

Aidan Oloapu Kane Spiteri

Benjamin Ukarangi

To my co coach Justin Hopper I thank you for all the work you put in. You had a big job to do being the President as well as a coach and I feel that you stood proud and

performed fantastically. Thanks mate.To my trainers Manuel Dinoris and Andrew Stewart I thank you for everything you guys

did as it makes our job as coaches so much easier.

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To my manager Peter Knox mate thanks for organizing everyone and keeping us well informed. Great to be working with you again.

Thank you to the committee for your support this year.I would like to also thank Michael Ibrahim for all of his support and encouragement he

showed the boys all the yearRegards

Paul NoppenCo Coach U/13's

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under 14 Gold


The 2014 season saw the boys have a promising start with three wins and a forfeit from their first four games but unfortunately these wins went against us in the long run. Having won these games (two of the sides we defeated were re-graded to the lower division) we soon found out the strength of the other teams. In hindsight we should have been in the lower division but that was not to be. With only squad of 16 players and with many major injuries during the year we struggled each week to have full complement of players. A big thank you to the many under 13 players and John Dufty (under 12) who filled in with us during the season. They all showed the “Pensy” spirit.

Along with the lack of players the small numbers at training made it difficult to get any rhythm but the boys kept trying to the end of the year. This was really shown in the second last game of the season where we took on the first placed team (Bankstown Bulls) at the time and gave them a run for their money actually leading 10-4 at one stage. At various times during the year all the boys showed they do have ability and with a bit more dedication at training and self-confidence could develop into handy rugby league players. There were a few standouts this year with a player in his first season of junior rugby league – Dillon Lin the pick of them. He certainly has a future in front of him.

Thanks to Mark Purcell and Richard Coulthard for your help as trainers during the season along taking on the training duties when I was unavailable. To my wife Anne for her managerial work along with Paul Doueihi who filled in during the season. A special thanks to our 1st Grade captain Ryan Tandek who throughout the season was there helping at training and giving the boys extra skill training. It showed again why he is such a great leader of our club. All the boys looked up to him and hopefully one day some of them will be playing 1st grade for Penshurst just like him. Finally thanks to all the parents and supporters who were there every week to give encouragement to the boys.

Congratulations to all the other Penshurst RSL teams from under 6 to 1st Grade, you continue to show why this club is the NUMBER ONE in the district.

Go the mighty Rissoles.Paul O’Loughlin (Coach)

The Players…

Alex MalatosAyden WatkinsBrent Coulthard

Charles “Cj” PritchardDavid Doueihi

Dillon LinHarrison Apostolovski

Jason McGuinessKhoder El-Zein

Kristian DimovskiMark Spiteri

Mitchell O’LoughlinMark Spiteri

Moussa BaalbakiNadim Abou Kanj

Zac Pitkethly

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under 14 Green


Firstly I just wanted to say thank you to all of the Parents for your support and commitment to our team. The role you parents play in your sons’ confidence, support & development is so important, and satisfying for us to sit back and watch. Thank You.

Being premiers in 2013 (second division), we were the highest ranked 14s team in the St George district, and this is an achievement alone. Therefore we were placed in the First division of the Sydney Combined Competition

We attracted some top local talent this year with the likes of Andrew Chizzanoti, Frankie Pele, Josh Scales and Omerhan Turk being identified / approached by coaching staff and joining Penshurst.

In a tough season with a limited number of wins, I credit the team’s individual development as a result of the experience of co-coach (Jim Pizanias). A big thanks to our trainers Matt Carr and Kerry Lawler, and manager Jocelyn Scales for your hard work.

However when speaking of ‘credit’, most of it must go to our Boys. This year they developed their Rugby League skills & maturity in a big way, competing in the First division of the Sydney Combined Competition had its challenges with the skill, size and weights of oppositions, however the boys remained mentally tough and stepped up to the challenges.

In reflection of 2014 season, fact is the boys have worked extremely hard and fully deserve all the nominations in Development squads and Harold Matthew’s recognitions.

Personally I feel privileged coaching a team of outstanding 14 year olds, not only full of Rugby League talent, but real decent respectful kids. Additionally being part of a passionate club with a great history.

The Players…

1. Benjamin Hupton2. Andrew Chizzoniti3. Josh Scales4. Omerhan Turk5. Nick Dean6. Jake Gifford7. William Saliba8. Ethan Hicks9. Nicholas Pizanias10. Harrison Carr11. Frankie Pele12. Chris Saliba13. Sam Goussis14. Harris Georgopoulos15. Mark Lawler16. Dylan Chong Sun17. Witeriana Koopu

In my view our boys gave 110% effort in every challenge, they became close mates, and really enjoyed coming to training and improving their fitness, skills and techniques. Thanks to the Springett twins for their help through the year.

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The highlight of the season was winning the NRL under 14s restricted weight (65kgs) for age gala day held of the 13 th

Sept. The boys played red hot nines rugby league to claim top prize, defeating Kellyville in the finals 14 to 0. They also won games against (Manly, Leichardt, Botany, Maroubra) This will be in my personal list of coaching highlights amongst winning two premierships and a Craig Rimmer shield over my 7 year coaching term. Thanks for the memories boys!

Congratulations to our players, and look forward to seeing you all at Penshurst RSL Footy club again in March 2015.

Kind Regards

Sean SalibaCo-Coach

Thanks to Mark Somboli for his on-going support.

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under 15s


To all the boys who participated this year, thank you for having me as your coach, thanks again for your commitment and support, particularly to all the boys who played their first year of footy. I hope you all enjoyed the season and that you all do come back next year bigger and better, work hard at training, continue to have fun and build on the mateship created this year and I am sure the results will come your way. To the two boys who suffered season ending injuries I hope you have made a speedy and full recovery and that everyone has gotten over there bumps and bruises.

Unfortunately this year we had an up and down season. It started without much expectations, however I feel we never reached our full potential. We never quite got going, we threatened with some good wins however consistency, concentration, discipline and work ethic at training let us all down. But I am proud of you all because you all turned up every Sunday and gave your best, your sportsmanship and the way you represented your club across four districts win or lose was outstanding, and along the way we showed we can play when we commit as a team.

We were rewarded with 6 good wins, two of those against Earlwood and one each against Renown, St Charles, Redfern and a thrilling come from behind win against Leichhardt. We also suffered some narrow loses against good teams like Leichhardt in round two, Mascot the eventual premiers and Botany in the last round, we got touched up by the runners-up Dundas twice and we were competitive in stages against all other opponents which was pleasing.

I would like to thank Phil for his support and help throughout the season, Danny and Mark for running the water on game days, and a huge thank you to Rachel for taking over the management duties on game days.

Finally a big thank you to all the parents and supporters for your strong support throughout the year, truly it was a privilege and an enjoyable and rewarding experience coaching your boys regardless of where we finished on the ladder; I wish you all a safe and relaxing off season and hope everyone comes back for another year in 2015.

The Players…Ethan Stockman-Gray

Gregory TowellHarrison AndrewsHarrison Tancred

Harrison WildLewis Hannah

Liam Kanis-ParkerMatthew Watson

Michael CareyMitchell MaudeNathan Polutele

Riley NagleSamuel SemisiSean SandilantShannon Wiki

Stephen ManswetoThomas Hui

Thomas WilliamsZacharia Jneidi

Thanks again boys and good luck next year... Andrew Fanos

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under 16s


Frustrating year for the u16s, injuries, player availability and some narrow loses meant we missed out on the semi-finals. We just couldn’t find that consistency week in week out and perhaps with a little more dedication to training, the year could of been slightly different.

Having said that, we showed we were more than capable of matching it with the top teams. We had a strong roster and the new boys who joined the club all had solid seasons.

I hope all the boys continue to play there senior football at Penshurst in the years to come. Many thanks to my staff Richard, Jason, Kim, Glenn and Leonie for helping to get the boys on the field. Coach: Ashley Wyld

Thanks to Dianne and John for their long-running support of our club.

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under 17s


Finals Results (Div. II)Minor Semi-Final vs Renown United Won 20-19Preliminary Final vs Ingleburn RSL Lost 28-50

The Players…Dylan Sinclair

Alex Ta’aleJason TibbittsMitch Walsh

Ronnie FetolofaiScott MoodieShaun WoodTaine Koopu

Blake HendleyHayden Monk

Johnny GamboaJordan Chong SunLiam O’Loughlin

Harrison BorgMatthew QuirkRyan Brickwood

Tom JacksonMichael Kanis-Parker

Season Ending Injuries:Fraser Carlyle

Luke EganUnder 16’s that helped out during the year:

Keiran WyldJosaiah FinauPeter Polutele

It was a really good year for the boys, with a number of new players joining, they settled into a good rhythm early. The middle of the season saw us with a number of losses, but the boys dug deep and had back to back wins at the backend of the season where it counts.

The boys had a huge Semi-Final win over Renown however they lost in the Major Semi-Final to Ingleburn RSL, who ended up winning the competition. I am really proud of this team and I hope they all come back next year and play in the under 19s.

Coaching Staff & Management: Rick Sinclair, Mick Quirk, Graeme Chong Sun

Coach: Michael Winchester

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under 19s


Finals Results (Div. II)Major Semi Final vs East Hills Bulldogs Won 14-8

Grand Final vs East Hills Bulldogs Won 10-4

Well season 2014 was a memorable one after a tough 2 years of rebuilding and the disappointment of the last 2 seasons being knocked out in the semi-finals with so much more to offer in the competition, This year we felt something special was going to happen after 2 years of rebuilding and now having a strong playing roster we were all looking forward to the season.

We started the season off with lose in the opening round against Moorebank 10-6 at Evatt Park in horrible conditions and only having half a side and playing a new structure we were always going to have teething problems, but after this minor hiccup we picked ourselves up and as a team we rolled through the regular season winning 16 of our 17 games and winning the minor premiership along the way & winning some games in tough fashion and keeping several team scoreless and restricting others to 10 points or less on most occasions.

The season was mainly built on the back of great defence and a great platform set by our forward pack who were by far the smallest pack in the competition and great finishing from our back line, our online defence was outstanding all year only conceding a handful of tries from 10m out very pleasing.

In our 1st semi we played East Hills at Oki and once again in wet poor conditions we knew it would be tough as it became a forwards battle and we were up against a much bigger pack, with 10 minutes left we were down 8-4 and looked gone but try telling the boys that, we dug deep and came away with a much needed 14-8 victory seeing us go straight through to the grand final and giving us a much needed week off to recover and prepare for the grand final in 2 weeks.

Well the time had come for the big day grand final 2014 and we were up against East Hills again at Oki, our preparation was only light due to the weather so the boys were fresh and ready to go, once again the conditions didn't suit us another wet game and large forward pack , We started off slow conceding the 1st try to trail 4 nil which was expected after having the week off but as we have always done we stuck together and kept fighting to level back just on half time and go in to the sheds tied 4 all.

The 2nd half was much the same as the 1st end to end stuff with some exciting play and several opportunities wasted by us, the game was looking like going into extra time with the game set in to a grind with both teams completing their sets and not giving up the ball in attacking position and with 6 minutes left on the back of 2nd phase footy we scored in the corned to lead 8-4 with an all-important kick from the side line. Nath Mc stood up and knocked it over giving us a 10-4 lead with minutes remaining East hills through everything at us in the last 2 minutes having 3 sets on our line and as we have done all year held strong and came away deserving winners 10-4.

I would like to thank my manager Darryn and trainers Jake & John for all your support and efforts through the season to myself and the boys it is much appreciated, Also to Matt Sloane & Justin Hopper for your help strapping the boys throughout the season when needed and Mick Quirk & Steve Rogers & Purc for filling in through the year as well.

To my current squad thank you all for your efforts this season you all know how much this season meant to me on a personal level and I look forward to next year with you boys, to the guys moving up to A grade good luck with the step up I know you will all handle it.

I would like to thank the players and coaching staff from 2012/2013 without you guys keeping the 19s afloat over the last 2 seasons of rebuilding this premiership would not have been possible, also special mention to Blake Tonna-Riley & Ben Rogers these 2 guys were in the u19s back in 2012 as 16 year olds and were a massive part of the rebuilding phase thank you fellas.

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A big thank you to our ball boy and #1 supporter, Cooper, for his support of the boys and his words of wisdom in the sheds on grand final day.

Lastly to my wife Katie thank you for everything you do for me and my 19s not only this year but the last 3 years you never complain but do what you do with a smile on your face and for nothing more than a thank you. Hope you all have a safe break see you all next year for another successful year.

Regards Jason – Coach

Celebrating their premiership victory

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3rd Grade


Finals Results (Div. III)Minor Semi Final vs Riverwood Legion Lost 10-20

At the start of the year Penshurst was blessed with a great number of players wanting to play A grade. We had a squad of 37 players and you can only have 25 in a team. So the coaching staff of the A grade and myself decided we would have two teams this season so we split the team into two squads - 17 in A grade and 20 in A reserves. And I took on the role as A reserve coach.

We still trained as one squad all season just splitting up to at training to work on our structures and to run opposed against each other. There was great camaraderie amongst all the players in both squads which was great to watch. As we were a new team that hadn’t played a lot of footy together we had to learn a lot about each other and the team structure that we were going to run with. We started the season well winning our first two games, but as the season progressed we had a few players pull out of the team and some long term injuries also.

That was a bit of a low point in the season but to the player’s credit they got through this and pushed on into the back end of the season. In the last 4 weeks of the regular season the boys were playing out of their skin, posting some good win against top 4 teams and ended up finishing 3rd place. We played Riverwood in the semi-final but it wasn’t to be. We were just a bit off the pace in that game, but I know the boys will be better for the experience and won’t let that chance slip through their hands again.

I’d like to thank all the boys for a great season and I hope to see you all back next year. I’d also like to thank my mother Cherie Hopper for being manager this year and my brother Justin Hopper and Hugh Jarvis for being trainers and Tyler Hopper for being ball boy this year. Your help was greatly appreciated.

The Players…Seamus Carroll (captain)

Kevin El-HusseinCharles Fetolofai

Dan HartleyAaron BurgessMatt Cocking

Guy MeogrossiRobbie Matagito

Hugh MilsomLuke Nash

Blake NewportPhil Pham

Moustafa TalebCorey Tonna-Riley

Jack WalshNathan Widderick

Will WoodDavid Anagnostou

Haze ParataHarry Newton

Tim Petrie

Damien Hopper 3rd grade Coach

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1st Grade


Finals Results (Div. I)Major Semi Final vs St George Dragons Lost 12-16Preliminary Final vs Bass Hill Broncos Won 29-28

Grand Final vs St George Dragons Won 30-6

Penshurst RSL are the 2014 1st grade premiers, successfully defending our 2013 A grade premiership of the Sydney Combined Competition. This follows our division II title in 2012.

A significant achievement that rates marginally above the club’s fielding of two A grade teams in 2014 – our second team played in the SCC’s 3rd grade. We’re not sure, but it is thought that this may be a first for Penshurst RSL. Critically, a second A grade team provides a pathway for younger players coming up from our under 19s. Much better than losing them to another club or sport.

The Players…Peter Armessen

Joshua BaihnBen Carey

Jacob CarsonErnie Ciaschetti

Matt CoffeyChris Cusumano

Ben GalluzzoAnton Harris

Damien HopperDane JamaToby Lind

Dean LockhartGerry Maestrelli

Thomas PatelMichael PetrieDave Pham

Lachlan RowleyShane Smith

Ryan TandekAdam Vrahnos

Matthew WinchesterMichael Winchester

Season 20142014 was unusual season for our 1st grade, who are accustomed to having to prove themselves in a higher grade. As defending 1st grade premiers, we were the team that others targeted.

In the main, we rose to the challenge to repel most oppositions. As usual, our smaller pack was physically courageous, dominating most of our much larger opponents. And our overall footy continued to progress, with our ball movement, speed of play and footwork prevailing on most occasions.

A special mention to our 3rd graders, who on many occasions backed up to support us when we were short. Not one 3rd grader let us down on the field, all of whom fitted in seamlessly.

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Finishing as minor premiers for the first time (by a single competition point), our main nemesis were St George Dragons who had defeated us on 2 out of 3 occasions. However, our major problem was the late season loss of our “mojo”, numerous players on “mid-season tours” and an extended period of washouts and forfeits/byes, left us with a marked lack of continuity and a poor preparation for the finals series.

On a sodden Jubilee oval, Dragons got the better of us in a dour and sloppy major semi. We had lost our chance at a home grand final, and still had to qualify for the big one.

On another heavy track at Peakhurst park, it looked like our season was done when Bass Hill Broncos led us 8-22 with only 14 minutes remaining. We had played ordinarily, to say the least. However, somewhere, the fire was rekindled. Resorting to a simple “drive-and-jump” approach, we slowly worked our way back into the contest.

We squared the score with a converted try (from near the sideline) after the “first” final siren to take the game into extra time. Again from behind, we managed to square the score to then take the game into golden point. We managed to avoid a replay with some quick-thinking passes and a field goal, all after the “very” final siren.

A terrific finish to a pretty poor performance. However, our enthusiasm had been reignited. The old spark was back. A great GF week – team meetings, a soggy session on an unmarked field, a few tactical changes – and the boys were set to go.

And go they did, dominating their opponents throughout the Grand Final at Lidcombe oval. A tremendous Rissoles’ defensive line, great lines and ball movement were enough to convincingly carry the day (and the defend the ‘ship). A 14-0 halftime lead was converted into an imposing 30-6 victory. Another great bus-ride back to Rissole!!

Our TeamsWhen we decided, both our staff and our team leadership, to go for a second A grade team, we barely had the numbers for two teams. With a very egalitarian and inclusive attitude towards the second team, we all embarked on a new journey. Lessons were learnt, changes were made, but most importantly, everyone worked together towards a common aim – success for both teams, on and off the field.

Tremendous thanks to the 3rd grade players, their team staff and coach, Damien Hopper, for working in so well with us.

Our Club & SupportersAs mentioned every year, a big factor in the positive culture of the A grades is the pride and belief they have in their club. The boys take great pride in the performances of their club mates throughout the season and, in particular, the finals series.

The boys also take every encouragement from the wonderful support of our Gold and Green crowd, particularly in the big end of season games. Everyone in Peakhurst and Riverwood heard our crowd that Saturday afternoon at Peakhurst Park.

Our CommitteeSincere thanks also to both the executive and general committees of the football club who, again, did such a great job putting our teams on the park, including the A grades. Special thanks to president, Justin Hopper, for his on-going support of the A grades in all matters great and small, and to secretary, Dave Cahill, who patiently put up with the comings and goings of our registrations – an unfortunate fact of life with A grades.

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A grade SponsorsIn 2014 we were strongly supported by numerous sponsors. So much so, that we were able to kit both squads with dress polos and training gear.

Your support of our A grade teams was very much appreciated. Whenever and wherever possible, please, return this support by patronising our sponsors.

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Team StaffOn behalf of the team, our gratitude to our team staff:

Dean Tandek Assistant CoachMatthew Sloane Head Trainer

Tim Burnell TrainerMartin Lee Trainer

Graeme Hemopo Manager/PhotographerCaitlyn Burnell Ball Girl

Joel Funnell Ball Boy

These people worked together and for the team selflessly throughout the season. Everyone contributed to the team effort with no fuss, doing whatever was necessary to get the job done.

And thanks also to:Austen Lavelle, who videoed all of our games

Max “Slapsie” Simmons, for his help with pre-game massagingSteven Cole of Ashby Medical Centre, Penshurst, for his medical expertise & advice.

My personal thanks to the team staff, to our supporters and to the players for another enjoyable and memorable season.

Ken HarrisCoach of the ‘ship

Our victorious 1st grade side celebrate their victory.

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