Incoming Harvey Norman NSW Women’s State of Origin coach Kylie Hilder has provided a taste of what elite-level Rugby League feels like at a two-day women’s development clinic in Canberra.
More than 40 girls travelled from centres as far afield as Griffith, Wagga Wagga, Cooma, Goulburn, Batemans Bay and Broulee to attend the event at the NSWRL’s Canberra-based complex at Bruce.
Hilder, a former NSW No. 9, was appointed the 2021 women’s Origin head coach five weeks ago and didn’t want to miss the opportunity of attracting more females to the game.
She led a field session after NRL Game Development officers ran a series of tackling and ball-playing skills.
This was followed by an education seminar with a Q&A session involving Hilder, Canberra Raiders Rugby League General Manager Mark Vergano, NSW Female Participation Coordinator for the NRL Kate Parkinson and four members of the Raiders Tarsha Gale Cup side.
Discussion centred around the issue of pathways for women and career opportunities for females in the Canberra region, including playing, coaching and officiating; and was followed by a Rugby League mini-tournament.