Workies stalwart Kyle Egan is working to put together an under 18s team worthy of the premiership in 2018, after the Lithgow Workies Wolves failed to field a junior team in the Group 10 rugby league competition this year.
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Mr Egan said he was confident in the club's ability to enter a junior side, after spending 2017 as the coach of the under 16s.
“I suppose because we didn’t have a team this year, the challenge is to put players together coming out of under 16s and the guys who wanted to play last season as well,” he said.
“So really the challenge is getting a side back together that’s competitive in next years competition.”
Mr Egan said prospective team members of the 2018 Group 10 team have started an online chat, which currently includes 24 people.
“That’s good numbers at this stage. But then you have to wait and see how many turn up to training, that’s the challenge I suppose. We’re trying to get together around twenty kids.”
Mr Egan said that now some of the club’s long-term players like Chris Rhodes, Jonathan and Brendon Van Veen are considering retirement, strengthening the Under 18s team is all the more important.
“I think it’s about getting the future going, trying to keep a competitive team of local guys, as opposed to what Orange CYMS and Oberon do which is buy a lot of players. Just to show the young guys, especially juniors, that there is a path into senior rugby league.”
“It’s bringing kids through pathways into senior footy, and giving them the possibility of going on to play representative football or even end up in Sydney.”
The absence of a junior team from Lithgow in the 2017 Group 10, followed a massive success from the 2016 team, who won the premiership.
“Yeah, our numbers ran low I think because we combined a 15s and 16s team in the Lithgow Storm, and then a few of the guys moved away, and a few of them started working – so that placed pressure on the numbers,” he said.
Mr Egan said there are some “very strong” players moving through the club, but there is also space for people enthusiastic to join the under 18s teams next year.
“We probably need a few big guys. They’re always pretty handy, especially in rugby league. Anybody interested in playing a game are certainly welcome to get in contact with us.”
Mr Egan recommended messaging the club’s Facebook page if you are interested in getting involved.
