St George Illawarra on Tuesday evening kicked off their first round of the 2019 Back 2 Juniors rugby league visits, with the entire NRL squad heading out to local junior league clubs across the Dragons' catchment area.
From Gerringong on New South Wales' south coast to Earlwood in Sydney's inner west, the Dragons' first grade squad visited 25 junior clubs all up.
Korbin Sims, Jackson Ford (both Gerringong Lions), Tyson Frizell (Corrimal Cougars), Blake Lawrie (Dapto Canaries), Jai Field (Shellharbour Sharks), Tristan Sailor (Wests Illawarra), Luciano Leilua (Hurstville United), Matt Dufty (Penshurst RSL) and Jacob Host (Renown United) were fortunate enough to return to their own junior clubs.
The entire first grade squad participated and assisted junior league coaches in training kids aged from as young as six to 18 throughout the afternoon.
"There's nothing better than going back to my junior club and seeing all the smiling kids' faces and giving back to the club in my own special way," Penshurst RSL junior Matt Dufty said.
"I spent 14 years playing at Penshurst RSL and they were an important factor in my rugby league career as I progressed through the grades at the Dragons.
"It's unreal the Dragons go to so many junior rugby league clubs and give back to all the kids in our area."
Clubs visited for the 2019 Back 2 Juniors –
- Albion Park Oak Flats
- Arncliffe Scots
- Avondale
- Berkeley
- Brighton Seagulls
- Collegians
- Corrimal Cougars
- Dapto Canaries
- Earlwood Saints
- Gerringong Lions
- Helensburgh Tigers
- Hurstville United
- Kingsgrove Colts
- Kogarah Cougars
- Penshurst RSL
- Port Kembla
- Renown United
- Riverwood Legion
- Shellharbour Sharks
- Stingrays Shellharbour
- Thirroul Butchers
- Warilla Lake South Gorillas
- Wests Illawarra
- Windang Pelicans
- Woonona-Bulli Bushrangers
