Sport
19 February, 2025
Mount Isa Rugby League embracing the RISE model
Local school kids began the NRL’s Routine Identity Socialise Evolve (RISE) program last week.
Former NRL coach Neil Henry says rugby league players from rural and remote areas generally have a unique blend of skills because of the sheer number of sports they play as youngsters.
He said players from the bush also benefited when they could gain specialised coaching without having to leave their communities.
“Kids from rural and remote areas are usually only a few minutes away from any sporting fields or activity – so they have a pretty wide range of skills on the field,” he said.
“There’s been a lot of good players that have come out of places like Mount Isa for that reason.”
The former Cowboys and Titans coach last week hosted the first Mount Isa training sessions with local school kids aged 13-17 in the NRL’s Routine Identity Socialise Evolve (RISE) program, which operates in conjunction with the Australian Kangaroos and Jillaroos teams, alongside researchers from Griffith University, and aims to provide high level training for “aspirational” league players.
“We thought why don’t we start a program at the community level that is for the aspirational kids – they don’t have to be selected for an elite academy program and move away to improve in their footy and get some specialised training, instead they can stay in their community,” Henry told North West Weekly.
“We have several components to the program – we have a mental health component where we talk about grit and coping strategies and then there’s a health and fitness component, you have to be strong and healthy to play this sport, as well as focus on attack and defence skills on the field.
“We get as many kids in the programs as we can and take away the club bias and instead set up our own teams after a few weeks of the coaching sessions so they can play each other.”
Queensland Rugby League’s Mount Isa league and club coordinator Mel Hodgetts said it was hoped four Mount Isa teams could be developed from the RISE program that would travel to compete in competitions later in the year.
“This is such a fantastic opportunity for the kids to have the experience of these guys like Neil and (RISE coaches and Townsville Blackhawks players) James Tamou and Jaelen Feeney spending time with them, so they are bettering their skills and keeping up their passion for rugby league,” she said.
“Everyone who participates in this program will be travelling to Cairns in July to play against players who completed the RISE program from places like Palm Island and Thursday Island.
“And then we will go to Townsville in September.”
Among those participating in the Mount Isa RISE program was 14-year-old Asha-Gail Sullivan.
Growing up in Camooweal, the Year 9 Spinifex student said she had only returned to playing rugby league since moving to Mount Isa to start secondary school.
“I played in the under-six and under-seven grades when I was little but now I am playing for the Mount Isa team and I’m looking to improve my skills and have some fun with my friends,” she said.
