This week’s episode of Behind the Roar gives us a glimpse into the future, with Wests Tigers General Manager - Women’s and Pathways, Matthew Betsey.
Episode 20 of BTR will drop at 4pm on Wednesday and is available on Apple, Spotify and YouTube.
It’s a timely chat with the club’s head of pathways as several Wests Tigers players take to the representative arena at the Australian Secondary Schools Championships and Under 19s State of Origin, both in Redcliffe.
Betsey also talks of the challenges and joys of piecing together Wests Tigers very first NRLW squad as the team prepares for its first trial game this weekend.
We take a deep dive into the strategic importance of pathways and development, and the unique opportunities we have as a club with three strong catchment areas.
“Essentially we run our junior development programs across Group 6, Wests and Balmain.” said Betsey.
Because of our big footprint we've got three times the number of players that some other clubs have in competitions.
Matthew Betsey
“Across Balmain and Wests Macarthur/Group 6 we've got probably over 10, 000 players to choose from.
“We've been very fortunate in my time in the last couple of years that the board and management have been really supportive in what we're trying to achieve to bring our best young players through.”
Betsey is quick to point out that Wests Tigers pathways blueprint in not just about the numbers, but a ‘holistic approach’ to player development.
“One of the things we've focused on is that holistic development, it’s more than just playing football,” says Betsey.
“What I would say to any parent or guardian if their son or daughter is picking up a football for the first time in our system, we have a sort of mantra, better players better people.
We can provide the right environment to help them work towards their dreams of playing rugby league in the NRL or NRLW.
Matthew Betsey
In fact one of the real joys of the job for Betsey and his staff is seeing a pathways player make their first grade debut, just as Tallyn Da Silva did a few weeks back.
"I'm sure there have been a lot of people involved in someone like Tallyn’s development over a number of years,” said Betsey.
As the saying goes, it takes a village to raise a child
Matthew Betsey
“I'm sure all those people, when they see that happen, have pride in the role that they played in his development.
Betsey was quite a talented cricketer before moving on to a coaching and development role with Cricket Australia, where he worked for the best part of a decade before joining Wests Tigers.
Nothing to do with footy, or development for that matter, but Betsey tells a great yarn about the day he turned up at the MCG as a spectator, only to be called into Steve Waugh’s Australian side at the eleventh hour.
We kid you not. Shane Warne, Steve Waugh, Mark Waugh, Adam Gilchrist …and our very own Matt Betsey!
All that and more on this week’s edition of Behind The Roar.
