Coaching
Once again this season there were many new aspiring and current coaches who were looking to gain or update their coaching accreditation. Seventy four coaches within the Canterbury Junior League participated in either a Modified Games or International Games Coaching Course that was held in late March. Along with the Junior League participation we also conducted a Modified Games and International Games Teachers Course that enabled us to assist with strengthening the coaching ranks amongst the schools within the Canterbury District.

A big thank you must go to the people who assisted with presenting modules at the various courses including Andrew Patmore, Jimmy Whitney, Jon Wilson & Judex Jasmine. 

ARL Development
Tyrone Collins and Steve Mowbray have made some big inroads with the development of grass roots Rugby League within the district. The 2009 season has been an extremely busy but rewarding year with thousands of students and teachers within the Canterbury District taking part in some form of Rugby League activity.

The annual Bulldogs Blitz was conducted in February with over 11,000 students from 45 schools across the district being visited by Bulldogs NRL players and ARL Development staff who were spreading the NRL’s One Community ‘Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well’ message.

The highlight of the year would have been the Annual Terry Lamb Seven’s Day for Primary School students that was run in conjunction with the Inaugural Andrew Ryan Captain’s Cup for High School students. Over 80 teams competed on the day with sponsors Telstra providing the 800+ students all with a football to take home.

A big thank you must go to the Bulldogs who have on many occasions throughout the year provided us access to the NRL players and also NYC player’s who assisted with our program delivery.

Junior Representative Season 2009
Two Bulldogs teams Premiers in the one day! That was the case for the Harold Matthew’s and SG Ball teams on Saturday 9th May 2009 played at St Mary’s Stadium. Both Bulldogs Junior Representative Teams are now National Champions in their respective age groups. This is the first year that the Harold Matthew’s and SG Ball competition’s have become nationally contested  including teams from all over NSW, QLD, VIC, ACT and NT.

Premierships in both grades in the same season have not been achieved by the Bulldogs before. The Bulldogs have only ever won the Harold Matthew’s competition once in 2007, and the SG Ball competition has been won twice in 1972 & 1978.

The Harold Matthew’s completed a dream season defeating Parramatta 34 points to 22 in a tough battle. The win saw the Harold Matthew’s top off their impressive season being Undefeated Minor Premiers & Premiers, with 13 wins from as many starts. Barnstorming back rower David Minute capped off a remarkable season being named Harold Matthew’s Player of the Year, named after the match during the presentation David was regarded as the best player of the entire competition based on his form throughout the season. \

The SG Ball finished their season on top defeating a classy Melbourne outfit 42 points to 16. Going into the half time break at 10 points all the Bulldogs had a battle on their hands. With twenty three minutes remaining Bulldogs Back Rower Lachlan Burr crossed the line for his second of three tries for the day tying the scores up at 16 all. An injury plagued Bulldogs outfit stuck solid together and scored four more tries to cap off a great season. Finishing the regular season in 3rd place the Bulldogs won 11 games with 1 loss and a draw. Ball playing lock Dale Finucane was voted SG Ball Player of the Year for his excellent consistent form all season.
The efforts of Minute and Finucane have never been matched before with two players from the same club receiving the Junior Rep Player of the Year award.

A big congratulations must go to Nathan Towney (Harold Matthew’s Coach) and Jason Williams (SG Ball Coach) and all their staff for a very successful season.

Grand Final Results
Harold Matthew’s
Bulldogs 34 (David Minute 2, Villiami Moekiola, Matthew Fukofuka, Jermaine Nader, Joshua Rainbow tries Peter Irwin 5 goals)
defeated
Parramatta 22
SG Ball

Bulldogs 42 (Lachlan Burr 3, Richard Irwin, Ali Hijazi, Aidan Sezer, Liam Ayoub tries, Ali Hijazi 7 goals)
Defeated
Melbourne 16

Regards
Steve Mowbray (NDO ARLD), Tyrone Collins (NDO ARLD)