The National Rugby League (NRL) is pleased to announce the grassroots award winners as part of the 2023 Community Awards, which seeks to honour the individuals who work tirelessly in the community to make rugby league Australia’s favourite sport.
Established in 2007, the NRL Community Awards have grown into rugby league’s most prestigious community-focused awards ceremony and consist of several award winners with categories ranging from grassroots through to the elite.
The NRL Community Awards are about recognising and celebrating our game’s unsung heroes and thanking them for the tireless work they do in the community.
“On behalf of the entire NRL Community, I’d like to congratulate all or our Grassroots Award winners and nominees from the 2023 season," Andrew Every, Executive General Manager Participation and Community said.
"With the support of Westpac, our Grassroots Community Awards provide the platform to recognise the tireless contribution of our game’s unsung heroes, celebrate unheard stories from our rugby league community and demonstrate the connection between the grassroots and elite levels of rugby league.
"Together with Westpac, we are thrilled to deliver this initiative as we continue to grow and excite all regions of community with our great game."
“At Westpac, we’ve been supporting communities across Australia for more than 200 years. Through our partnership of the NRL Community Awards we’re proud to be able to recognise those unsung heroes who have been tireless in their service and commitment in growing and supporting the game in their local rugby league community," added Westpac Chief Brand and Marketing Officer, Annabel Fribence.
The NRL would like to congratulate the below award winners and recognise them for their ongoing and extensive contributions to the rugby league community.
Community Rugby League Club of the Year Award
Zenadth Kes Junior Rugby League (ZKJRL)
Thursday Island’s Zenadth Kes Junior Rugby League (ZKJRL), is a small community club making a big difference to children on Thursday Island, Horn Island, Hammond Island and other small Torres Strait remote islands. Despite being one of the most remote clubs, Zenadth Kes Junior participants travel to games by ferry and dingy, allowing them to play in regular competition.
Over the last five years there has been an increase of players and volunteers in the club. This growth has brought the community together through a love of rugby league. Passionate volunteers have been the backbone of this growth, many without knowledge of rugby league but with a desire to learn. The volunteers were funded by the club to be trained and accredited, thus giving the children opportunities to play and compete. Zenadth Kes Junior Rugby League has created an opportunity to build stronger communities across the island group, to generate an important source of social connection and a sense of belonging.
The club has partnered with key health providers in the Torres Strait, working in partnership to close the gap target for Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander people. This partnership provided an opportunity for health providers to reach more people who may not have access to these services prior to joining the club. This opportunity for the health providers to access participants and their families, makes a direct contribution to improving the health of people on the Island.
Indigenous Community Award
Candita Collins
Candita Collins is known as the lifeblood of the Narwan Eels Rugby League Club. Officially, Candita is the club’s Treasurer; however, Candita volunteers as the club’s sports trainer, secretary, grants officer and ground manager.
Candita looks after almost all of the day-to-day operations, but just as importantly she provides guidance, care, advice and comfort for everyone involved in the club from players, volunteers to officials. She organises mental health sessions for the club as well as focusing on their physical health.
Keen to forge a strong sense of community through rugby league, Candita eagerly encourages people in the Armidale Indigenous community to get involved in the club – as a player, volunteer or as a supporter of the players. Candita has increased numbers in the club as a result of her hard work. An U/18's side played the season for the first time in the club’s history due to Candita’s encouragement.
Teacher of the Year Award
Kylie Boulous
Kylie Boulous is a full-time teacher and mother of two, who passionately volunteers her time to promote rugby league in her own school as well as the wider community. Despite the accolades she receives, Kylie is humble and ensures every opportunity she provides for her students is for their best interest.
Kylie ensures the NRL’s League Stars K-2 program runs for the youngest students at her school, making sure rugby league is taught to students from their first year of primary school. She is always the first one to enter her school to the Eels Gala days, Eels Community Blitz days and League Stars Inspire programs.
Taking ten girls to an Ampol Little Origin event and thirty students to test run a Guard of Honour tunnel at the Eels home games are just some examples of how Kylie gives up her time to ensure children have wonderful opportunities to experience the game of rugby league in so many different ways.
Women in League Award
Poihaere Birtles
Enthusiastic to encourage grassroots players, Poihaere is the current Coonabarabran Unicorns U/10’s, U/14’s Girls Representative Development League Tag and U/15’s Girls Far West Academy coach. She straps and conducts blue vest duties for the Men’s A Grade team after her Junior League commitments on Saturday mornings and continues to volunteer her time well into the evening. Poihaere also facilitates the Junior Coonabarabran Unicorns Social League tag day and the Coonabarabran JRLFC pre-season training program, with the aim to bring the community together through rugby league.
Keen to help girls beyond her local community, Poihaere assists in coordinating trials and training camps at Far West Academy in Warren, NSW. Traveling and staying away from home, Poihaere is always positive to give her time for the betterment of the game. Leading by example, her dedication has encouraged other women to volunteer too.
Poihaere does not rest in the off-season, she sees this as an opportunity to initiate and run the CJRLFC pre-season rugby league weekly training program for all ages. This program keeps kids active in the off-season, allowing them to continue developing their skills and confidence. Her evenings are spent as the allocated social media representative for the junior rugby league club.
Volunteer of the Year Award
Andrew Unger
Andrew Unger is a tireless volunteer who passionately serves his South Adelaide Rugby League Club as eight-time president of the club, senior men's team manager, women's program coordinator and U/14's assistant coach.
South Adelaide Rugby League Club would not exist today if it was not for Andrew. He re-established the club mission statement, club values and constitution. Prior to Andrew joining the club, it lacked financial stability, and did not have players or grounds available. Now, four years later the club is thriving with junior and senior grades, women teams, partnerships with sponsors and a base at a council facility.
Nothing is too hard for Andrew – he travels 500kms, twice a week, for training and games. Leaving home at 5.00am, Andrew is the first to arrive and last to leave. As well as his physical work at the club, Andrew pours his time into behind-the-scenes work such as raising money for the club, keen to keep costs low for families. Andrew works hard to establish sponsorship for his club from local businesses, allowing all children to have an equal opportunity to play the greatest game of all.
Young Person of the Year Award
Douglas Brown
A focused Year 12 High School student and senior rugby league player is already a big commitment but Douglas Brown also dedicates himself to his rugby league club. Douglas also volunteers as a coach, assisting with set up on game days, fundraising and unpacking deliveries at the club during the week.
When the U/13’s team struggled to secure a coach, Douglas stepped into the role keen to make sure the boys could play in the competition. He travelled each weekend to their games and trained them during the week while balancing his studies, apprenticeship applications and own rugby league responsibilities. This commitment from a 17-year-old is to be commended.
Douglas’ showed resilience and positivity when his own rugby league journey did not go to plan when he was not selected to play in the grand final. His determination, discipline and positivity did not go unnoticed by his teammates and coaching staff, and he went on to be achieve several awards at the presentation evening – the Rising Star award, Coaches award and the Most Consistent award.