The Dyldam Parramatta Eels have hosted four rugby league coaches from the Northern Territory Rugby League last week, as part of our continual partnership in the Northern Territory to grow the game.
The coaches, Daniel Roach, Matthew McCourt, Shane McDowell and Jake Johan spent some time watching the Blue and Gold train and learning from Head Coach Brad Arthur and the Eels coaching staff, learning from our development staff across the board and attending Parramatta Eels District Representative Trials.
“A lot of the camp was being around the NRL under 20s and under 18s squads just seeing how the coaches lay out their sessions, and how they organise and get what they want out of a particular training,” Johan told the Centralian Advocate.
“I enjoyed the camp a lot and I can take back to the club I’ll be coaching at a lot more drills and warm ups And I can just be more organised with what I want to get out of my sessions.”
Undoubtedly these coaches are looking forward to benefiting from the Eels’ presence in the Territory until the end of 2017, with a big focus on growing the game in areas where rugby league may not be the most popular sport.
“I want to see all the keen rugby league juniors understand that there is a pathway from Alice Springs to the NRL if you work hard enough and learn all the right techniques,” Johan said.
“I think the biggest thing I took away from being in Parramatta was just watching and listening to the top coaches and just being able to learn and take in and be as organised as I can be to help out the kids I’ll be coaching.”
The Eels will play their first trial match of the pre-season, after featuring in the 2016 Downer NRL Auckland Nines, in Alice Springs on Saturday, February 13, against the Gold Coast Titans at ANZAC Oval.
Eels Head Coach Brad Arthur talks with the NT Coaches about the Blue and Gold training session
Eels assistant coach Steve Murphy discusses the Blue and Gold training plan with the NT Coaches
