League officials welcome college academy

Officials from Woy Woy Leagues Club have welcomed the new Rugby League Academy at Brisbane Water Secondary College's Woy Woy campus.

Mr Peter Read said the Leagues Club was excited about the possibility of the Peninsula having its own quality program for elite junior sports men and women.

He said the club had joined with the Australian Rugby League Foundation and Country Rugby League (CRL) the sports academy at the school.

The club had incorporated the Academy into its Rugby League Junior Development Program, under the direction of its junior development manager Mr John Jewiss.

Jewiss, a former Balmain and Western Suburbs grade player, formulated a detailed mid-season program, in conjunction with the junior development managers of both the Parramatta Eels and the Wests Tigers.

The program was designed to raise the skill level of junior players and was undertaken by Junior Woy Woy players from the Under 13 to Under 16 year age groups.

Jewiss said the program needed to be fine-tuned in some areas, but was a great benefit to the players involved

"The results which the junior teams achieved over the season show that the players did learn a bit more about the game," he said.

"This season we are committed to extending the program, including players from the Under 9s up to the Under 12s."

The Roosters also planned to attend all primary schools on at least two occasions between February and June.

These sessions will also be in conjunction with the CRL, and will include NRL players and local Roosters Jim Beam Cup players.

These visits have got off to a great start, with the initial days at Woy Woy Public school on February 7 and Umina Public School on March 5 being well received by students and teachers alike.

Press release, March 18