Sport
10 February, 2022
Snakes duo rub shoulders with prolific league coach
NEWLY appointed Caboolture Snakes junior rugby league executives Nate Findlay and Adrian Scholtes recently took the chance to learn from one of the most experienced coaches in the sport.
Findlay and Scholtes headed to Redcliffe on Tuesday, February 1, to attend a meeting at the Dolphins Academy to hear from Wayne Bennett and other speakers.
Narangba, Burpengary, Brighton and North Lakes were among the other junior rugby league clubs that were represented at the meeting.
The coaching coordinators and managers at these clubs were interested to hear and learn about junior player and coaching development plans for the Dolphins, who will enter the National Rugby League (NRL) next year.
Most of the clubs that were represented at the meeting have an affiliation with the Dolphins although the Snakes were an exception, as they play in the Sunshine Coast competition rather than the Brisbane competition.
In his first year as Snakes junior rugby league president, Findlay said it was an interesting meeting for him and Scholtes, who is the operations football manager at the Caboolture junior rugby league club.
“We really opened our eyes and ears to see what can be brought to the club,” Findlay said.
“It was interesting to see their pathway from grassroots through to seniors.
“It was similar to ours, although theirs covers bigger numbers, and is coming from a professional club, and with a lot more money.”
Findlay said the Dolphins speakers rolled out their planning and itinerary development, and also mentioned the RISE Rugby League Development Program which helps 13 to 15-year-old league juniors gain specialised training and education.
“From what the Dolphins were saying, they’d like to affiliate with clubs, maybe right out to Rocky (Rockhampton), and want to build the club from junior development level,” Findlay said.
“The Dolphins want all clubs in the region to become strong, not just one or two.”
As for possible impacts that Dolphins’ junior recruitment and pathways could have on clubs such as the Snakes, Findlay said “it depends how you look at it”.
“We have players who transfer to and from our club for various reasons,” Findlay said.
“It’s about building stronger football communities at every club.
“I really liked that idea, rather than clubs poaching from other clubs.”
Findlay was unconcerned about the prospect of losing players from the Snakes to the Dolphins, saying: “The QRL has rules in place to help clubs manage players, but at the end of the day we lose players and gain new players every season.”
