The Perth Bears have launched the Sydney Tracks Academy, giving young players in NSW a direct pathway into the NRL and extending the club’s Elite Pathways program into one of rugby league’s heartlands.
Sydney holds a special place in the Bears’ story. It is where the North Sydney Bears began as a foundation NSWRL club in 1908, and the new academy offers local players a direct route into the NRL.
The launch was held at the NSWRL Centre of Excellence at Olympic Park, where Perth Bears Head Coach Mal Meninga and Perth Bears Elite Pathways Manager Ian Millward addressed the group of prospective Bears players.
WATCH THE VIDEO: MAL'S ADDRESS TO THE TRACKS PLAYERS
The Sydney Academy is the newest part of an Elite Pathways program that has already seen the Bears sign numerous young players across the three states where it operates.
Sydney joins the Perth Tracks Academy, which began earlier this year and resumes next month, and the Brisbane Tracks Academy, which started in July and resumed this week.
The Perth Bears Academy will complement the existing North Sydney pathways system, further increasing the chances of young players in both programs of playing in the NRL.
Perth Bears Head Coach Mal Meninga said the Sydney Tracks Academy was another important step for the club.
“The Sydney Tracks Academy gives us a foothold in NSW and provides a great connection between the Perth Bears and our North Sydney history,” Meninga said.
“Our pathways system is not just focused on making these young men better players but also better people by giving them the opportunity to grow on and off the field.”
Meninga told the players their journey into the NRL would not be easy.
“The boys will need to sacrifice and work hard to make it in the NRL. Our role is to help them achieve that,” he said.
“This first group coming through the Sydney Tracks Academy are our standard bearers, our trailblazers. We want them to be bold like the Bears and protect and look out for each other. We want to instil a strong work ethic and a selfless attitude.”
Millward said the program was built to identify and develop players wherever they live.
“Elite Pathways is about giving young players a clear route to the NRL, and Sydney was always going to be a key part of that,” Millward said.
“The links with North Sydney are important to us. We want players, families and clubs in that system to see the Bears as a club that is invested in their development.”
Millward made clear to the group what values they would be measured on.
“We believe in culture over talent, effort over reputation, discipline over hype and character over highlights. Good people make for better teams and for us it’s all about character,” he said.
“We’re not just developing rugby league players, we are developing young men who will represent their families and the club with pride.”
The club also has plans to extend Elite Pathways beyond Australia, with New Zealand and South Africa identified as the next markets.
