Bennett backs Rosies touch teams

Gerard Walsh | 27th November 2009

From left are Nalahni Jerome, Dennis Binge, St George coach Wayne Bennett, Ben Charles, Shaye Hippi and Rosies co-ordinator Carol Schultz from the Rosies touch teams on Wednesday night.

ST George Illawarra Dragons rugby league coach Wayne Bennett reckons being part of a sporting team can be a great boost to the self esteem of any young person.

Bennett was in Warwick on Wednesday night to meet with players from the four Rosies teams playing in Monday and Wednesday night Warwick Touch Association competitions.

He first threw his support behind the Rosies Mission and its role in helping the disadvantaged when he met Warwick co-ordinator Carol Schultz while visiting Assumption College where she was a teacher.

“I went to St George about the same time. I said I would come to touch and made it this week as I go back to Sydney on Monday,” Bennett said.

“Rosies is a wonderful concept and I am familiar with the work of Rosies on the Gold Coast.

“The support from Rosies means a lot to the young people who are struggling with life generally.

“Rosies is a group where youth feel they can come and get the type of support they don’t feel they get at other places.

“Sport is great as it helps young people become part of a team.”

Bennett acknowledged some youth may have low self-esteem and said Rosies gave them opportunities.

“They can come to touch and be with each other and hopefully learn something about discipline and playing by the rules,” he said.

Bennett said there were some similarities between rugby league and touch.

“There are some kids in the Rosies teams with quite high skill levels,” he said.

Rosies player Ben Charles was happy to catch up with Bennett again.

“We talked a bit of footy; it is pretty good for Wayne to come here,” Charles said.

As he moves into the second year of his three-year contract at the Dragons, the coach who spent his childhood at Killarney, Allora and Warwick said he was happier to be living in Wollongong than in Sydney.

“Wollongong is a big country town, the people are laid back and traffic is not an issue,” he said.

“It is only a 50-minute drive to our other ground at Kogarah Oval.”

Rosies touch teams wear jerseys donated by Dragons and Broncos NRL clubs but team organisers are seeking additional support to cover the $4000 it costs to put teams on the field each year.

The plan is to also form a women’s team next season. More information from Carol Schultz on 0404 030 389.