The annual 7 a side ET Shield awoke the sleeping gala day giant, with 24 local teams gracing the turf at Endeavour Fields and Solander Oval, Woolooware. Stalwarts Gymea Bay Public School, Yarrawarrah Public School and Our Lady Star of the Sea Miranda Primary School were back at their favourite carnival, but we also saw the emergence of Inaburra School and Oyster Bay Public Schools who competed for the first time.

Step right up…..Rugby League’s the winner! From the pavilions at the Royal Easter Show to the playing fields around Sydney, Rugby League Development officers have been busy providing various opportunities for children and volunteers in recent weeks.

It was a room full of very happy teachers who enjoyed the South Sydney Rabbitohs hospitality at the round one NRL game at Allianz Stadium. With a victory to the Red and Greens the new Teacher Ambassador launch was a most successful night.

On Tuesday the 12th of February the NRL and Sydney Roosters conducted assembly visits to schools around the eastern suburbs in conjunction with the One Community Campaign ‘Tackling Bullying’.

Junior players recently roared into Concord Oval to register for the upcoming junior league season in the Balmain district hoping to follow in the footsteps of local products Robbie Farah and Aaron Woods. All 11 Balmain DJRL clubs had stalls set up to entice new players to play junior Rugby League in 2013. We were greeted with some cloud cover but by the time we kicked off the “Come and Try” skills clinics, we were bathed in glorious sunshine. A massive crowd of people from all ages got involved with some of the Rugby League activities that NRL Development Officers were running.

On Tuesday the 12th of February, over 3000 students across ten schools in the North Sydney area had the opportunity to participate in the very first North Sydney Community Carnival. The 2013 Community Carnival focused on the NRL’s “Tackle Bullying” program where players from various NRL Clubs and NRL Ambassadors visited local schools and reinforced key welfare and Anti Bullying messages.

Seven hundred children enjoyed a first class Grand Final experience at ANZ Stadium just prior to the main event. A few days before the Melbourne Storm and the Canterbury Bankstown Bulldogs prepared to play for premiership honours, the children toured the dressing rooms, enjoyed the lap of honour and participated in Coles Backyard League games.