By Melissa Peters
Marketing and Events Officer
We interviewed some of our Bremer Rugby League Academy student-athletes about their experiences so far this year. Here's what Richard (Year 10), Isaac (Year 7), and Harry (Year 7) had to say:
Why did you join the Bremer Rugby League Academy?
Richard: I joined the academy because I wanted to see how much I could improve my game skills. I'm excited to be a part of the Academy.
Isaac: I really enjoyed playing rugby league in grades 5 and 6, so I wanted to continue playing rugby league when I came to high school. I also wanted to make friends with people who share the same passions as me.
Harry: I joined the Bremer Rugby League Academy because I love footy. I'm passionate about the game, and I love the way it brings people from different backgrounds together. The Bremer Rugby League Academy gives you the chance to meet new people and make new friends.
What have you found to be the most enjoyable part of the Academy?
Richard: The most enjoyable moments are seeing the whole team smile at every game and throughout training, including our hardworking coach. I also love seeing our school community come out to support us at games and cheer us on.
Isaac: I love everything about working as a team, playing sports, and training with my friends. I also appreciate the coaches we have and the time they give up to train us and make us better rugby league players and a better team and beyond footy, they're also dedicated to helping us become better human-beings. Thank you, Mr. De Jager, Mr. Seiler, Mr. Lowe, and Gilddo from the East Tigers!
Harry: I just love playing the game. I love everything about footy, so having the chance to be part of the Academy has been a huge highlight of my time at Bremer so far. There is nothing that I don't enjoy about the Academy.
How does it feel to have made it into the finals?
Richard: The feeling of making it to the finals was relieving because as a team, we wanted to prove that our school has something special to offer student-athletes interested in Rugby League. Being part of the Academy has been special and rewarding. While we missed out on taking home the trophy, we're all still proud of how far we came as a team and making it to the grand finals. We feel like we made a name for our school in the community.
Isaac: It felt amazing to be in the finals because the reality is that you won't always make it to the finals, so you need to soak up the glory when you can. I was proud of my team during our grand final match against Ipswich SHS 8's. We worked hard, tried our best, and despite not winning the trophy, we're still winners.
Harry: Making the finals was one of the best experiences I've had. We didn't win, but we played with true grit and determination. I'm proud to be part of the team.
What challenges have you overcome personally, and are there any challenges that the team had to work to overcome together?
Richard: We had to learn how to play together as a team and not let our opponents get to us. We experienced some mocking and taunting from other teams, and while it was hard to ignore the comments, it was encouraging to see our team rise above instead of fighting back and stooping to their level. We wanted to prove ourselves on the field and show that we have Bremer PRIDE. By making it to the finals, we did just that.
Isaac: Personally, I found putting myself out there to be a challenge, but I felt encouraged by my teammates and became more confident with my game skills, like tackling. As a team, we've been working on our in-game communication around defence. This is something we can continue to improve on for the next season.
Harry: I'm pretty short, so that was a challenge, but it's not something I'll ever let stop me from playing the game I love. As a team, we've been working to improve our in-game communication and gel together better.
If someone was on the fence about joining the Bremer Rugby League Academy, what would you say to them?
Richard: Give it a go! Check out the Rugby League Experience days and just give it a try. If you love rugby league, then this is the place for you.
Isaac: Come and join us! You'll improve your skills and have fun playing the game. You'll make new friends and be taught by amazing coaches.
Harry: What do you have to lose? If you love the game of rugby league, want to improve your skills, make lifelong, like-minded friends, and have opportunities that you won't get anywhere else, then you won't regret it! The Bremer Rugby League Academy is the place for you!
To learn more about the Bremer Rugby League Academy, click here.
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