The St George Illawarra Dragons, together with St George District Rugby League and Illawarra Steelers combined for its first ever club-wide training session at the University of Wollongong on Wednesday evening.
The 2025 NRL and NRLW playing squad and staff, along with over 100 pathways staff and approximately 250 of the brightest male and female talent across the St George and Illawarra regions packed out the Central Lecture Theatre on campus.
Dragons General Manager of Football, Ben Haran, kick-started the milestone event, emphasising importance of club connection and development across both male and female programs before outlining the structure of the evening's joint NRL-player led training session.
Nathan Cross, who recently joined St George Illawarra as NRLW Head Coach and Pathways Coaching Coordinator, highlighted the importance of the club's pathways system and the role in plays in developing tomorrow's stars.
"I think this club's got a great track record and history of showing that if you're a good up-and-comer in the pathways system here, there is definitely a future for you here at NRL or NRLW level," Cross said.
"We've seen that with the males and we're now seeing these opportunities with our young females. We've got several (former pathways) players in our top 24 NRLW squad which shows if you're talented and you're a good person, we're going to back you to reach the highest level of the game."
NRL Head Coach Shane Flanagan stated the importance of representing the club's proud history.
We've come together to understand that we're a part of a big club. There is a lot responsibility that comes with that.
"I want everyone to be instilled with pride as they head into their respective competitions, knowing that they're a part of a big club," Flanagan said.
Local Thirroul Butchers junior and NRL squad member Ryan Couchman is a recent example of the Dragons pathways system. Couchman shared the importance of NRL and NRLW players interacting with pathways players.
"These opportunities are great and allows juniors coming through the ranks a good understanding on where their progression is at training with the NRL squad," Couchman said.
"I think it is added motivation being amongst the top squads. They understand the value of hard work, but also gives them the chance to ask us questions that may help with their development."
Couchman further added the enthuasism on display at the University of Wollongong sports fields on Wednesday evening.
"Everyone was really willing to learn and they bought in and listened really well. Everyone was pretty excited to get around it and get amongst it, all to get better and improve," he added.
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