New grassroots initiative up and running

Wests Tigers have commenced our Back to the Juniors (B2J) program as the team prepares itself for the opening round of the 2023 NRL season.

The B2J program is about building strong, meaningful and sustainable connections with the junior rugby league clubs in Wests Tigers catchment areas, namely Sydney’s Inner-West, Sydney’s South-West, and the broader Macarthur region.

The B2J program will be rolled out in phases across the season with all 36 junior league clubs firmly invested in making it work.

The 2023 program commenced last week when a dozen players from Wests Tigers NRL top-30 squad visited six junior clubs in the South-west, including Glenquarie All Stars, Macarthur Saints, Campbelltown City Kangaroos, Warragamba Wombats, Mittagong Lions and Appin Dogs.

David Klemmer and Shawn Blore, as well as Campbelltown juniors David Nofoaluma and Justin Matamua, were a few of the players putting smiles on faces.

The Back to the Juniors program also includes game-day integration at Wests Tigers home games in 2023. 

Wests Tigers will launch its all-new Half Time Heroes competition at Sunday's opening game of the season at Leichhardt Oval.

This new grassroots initiative will see hundreds of young guns from our local junior clubs playing on the very same turf as their NRL heroes.

Half Time Heroes Round 1 teams

Carlingford Cougars Dundas Shamrocks, Five Dock RSL, Liverpool Catholic Club, East Campbelltown Eagles and Strathfield Raiders.

Community Engagement Coordinator, Botille Vette-Welsh is overseeing the B2J program.  She says the first phase of the program has been a delight to observe.

“Getting back to the grassroots is really also getting back to basics, and the kids love it,” she said.

We all remember when we were kids how it felt when one of our heroes came to our school or club.

Botille Vette-Welsh

"It was amazing and nothing has changed.

“Our players enjoy it and so do the kids at our junior clubs.

Wests Tigers really do care about how our junior clubs are developing, and we will continue to make a positive impact and help them at every opportunity.

Botille Vette-Welsh