Bulldogs Celebrate their 101st Junior League Season

Author: Caitlin Glanville Media & Communications Manager
Timestamp: Thu 8 Dec 2022, 09:31 AM

The Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs celebrated a successful junior league season at the inaugural gala presentation night on Wednesday evening.

The night honoured the outstanding contributions of players and staff, as well as celebrated the achievements of the Canterbury-Bankstown District Junior Rugby League and Bulldogs Feeder Clubs.

More than 180 were in attendance, including representatives from 12 Clubs who participate in the catchment area where future Bulldogs stars are being unearthed, to celebrate the Canterbury-Bankstown Junior Rugby League’s (CBDJRL) 101st season.

Bulldogs’ Head of Junior League, John Grealy said the presentation night, the first following some disrupted years during the pandemic, was a great way to bring everyone together and celebrate the contribution of the clubs and their people towards the CBDJRL season.

“The 2022 season saw the disruptions of the previous two years become a distant memory, and we finally got to enjoy a full season of good rugby league. I’d like to thank everyone who was involved in making the season as successful as it was.

“The passion and efforts of the volunteers who run our 12 local clubs are unparalleled, and we thank these volunteers for the time and effort that they give, and for the passion that they bring to each of our clubs.

“Likewise, the season would not be what it is without the efforts of our players and their families, our wonderful referees from the Canterbury Bankstown Referees Association, and the staff whose dedication enables an enjoyable experience for our participants year-on-year.”

“Thank you also to our major partner, Canterbury League Club for their generous support and to our junior league sponsors, Piety Group, League Fit Australia, Bankstown Physiotherapy, and Dental on Evaline whose contributions allow the CBDJRL to be the best that it can be,” he said.

In a generous showing of support for the grassroots of the sport, Canterbury League Club provided $29,000.00 worth of development grants to clubs on the evening, including a $5,000.00 donation for the Club of The Year Award which was won by the Berala Bears.

Canterbury League Club Chief Executive Officer, Greg Pickering, who was in attendance, said he was proud to be able to support the CBDJRL through the League Club’s ongoing major partnership.

“Canterbury League Club is well known for being the Home of the Bulldogs, but our support for Rugby League goes far deeper. For decades we have been proudly supporting the development and growth of the junior game in the Canterbury Bankstown area. It’s this grassroots support of the game that is so close to our hearts as we get to promote the game that we all love in our own community, being played by our own Members and their families.

“On behalf of the entire League Club, I’d like to congratulate all the deserving winners of the 2022 CBDJRL Awards.”

The success of seven local junior rugby league members was also celebrated at the gala event, with players presented a memento from their first-grade debut with the Bulldogs. In addition, and as a moving gesture, Canterbury League Club and the Bulldogs surprised the players and their local junior clubs by providing development grants of $500.00 to the club for each year of service that the player was with them between the ages of 8 and 17.

“Congratulations to Jacob Kiraz, Billy Tsikrikas, and Kurtis Morrin and their respective junior clubs in St Johns, Milperra Colts, and Moorebank on this great achievement,” said Mr. Grealy of the players who made their NRL debut for the Bulldogs in 2022.

“With COVID interruptions to the few last seasons, we also celebrate the debuts of Jackson Topine, Jake Averillo, Chris Patolo, and Tui Katoa and thank their respective junior clubs in St George Dragons, Moorebank Rams, Bankstown Sports, Berala Bears, and Chester Hill for the role they played in developing the next generation of Bulldogs.”

Unfortunately, Katoa and Kiraz couldn’t be present at the evening due to other commitments, but all other players were in attendance and called upon to hand over the generous contributions to representatives of their former clubs.

With the Club’s focus on building talent pathways and strengthening the Bulldogs Academy, the Canterbury-Bankstown Bulldogs recognised the important role that junior league clubs play in developing the next generation of football talent.

“We look forward to building even stronger relationships with our junior Clubs, driving further participation, development, engagement, and success in 2023.

“Congratulations to everyone involved in the 2022 season, especially our Award winners,” Mr. Grealy said.