The next crop of Wests Tigers young guns is preparing to hit the road to Tamworth after rubbing shoulders with rugby league royalty last week at Campbelltown.
The club’s U/16's Cubs were put through their paces last Thursday night under the watchful eye of Wests Tigers legend Benji Marshall.
Marshall, who will work alongside Tim Sheens as an Assistant Coach next season, has assisted the club’s pathways team on several occasions throughout the year.
This session – under lights on a rainy night at Campbelltown Sports Stadium – was in preparation for the Cubs’ upcoming Community & Development tour of Tamworth.
Cubs at Campbelltown
The team is heading to Tamworth today where the boys will spend three days assisting with community visits, school visits and coaching sessions.
A big part of the trip will also be a cultural experience in a remote indigenous community led by a local Aboriginal Elder, before playing against a Northern Tigers team as the curtain raiser to our NRL team's Round 22 match against Cronulla Sharks.
This trip follows a highly successful tour of New Zealand by the U/18's Cubs in June, which was an important part of the Cubs program led by Brett Kimmorley.
The Cubs program brings together some of the brightest young prospects across the club’s three junior development areas, Balmain, Western Suburbs and Macarthur/Group 6.
Several of the U/16's Cubs are already contracted to Wests Tigers including the likes of Luke Laulili’I (East Campbelltown Eagles), Mikey Nasser (Concord Burwood) and Riley Oitman (Camden Rams).
Wests Tigers Head of Pathways, Matthew Betsey says the session with Benji was a big hit with the players.
“They absolutely loved it and it’s easy to see that Benji enjoys it too.
Benji is a household name in rugby league, one of our club legends, and we’re very fortunate to have his help.”
Head of Pathways, Matthew Betsey
"The Cubs are so excited to be going away together, and the session with Benji has got them jumping out of their skin.”
I think trips like this, and what we did in New Zealand, are so important. It’s not all about football, it's also about learning important life skills and working together as a team.”
