2024 Territory Junior Championships

In 2024 NRL NT will be introducing the Territory Junior Championships aimed at creating more opportunities to play our game locally at regional representative level of participation to support inspirational Players, Coaches, Sports Trainers, Team Managers and Match Officials. By providing this regional structure focussed on bringing people together in a more challenging environment will assist NRL NT in delivering greater personal and professional development for people within rugby league both on and off the field for all involved.

This process will also be integrated into the RISE programs currently available and importantly improve how we select our NT Titans teams and how they prepare to compete at specific Australian Secondary Schools Rugby League National Championships instead of the current gap between local club football and direct into a far greater level of national representative systems.

This development structure is inline with all other States & Territories except Tasmania as South Australia are now included in all NRL Victoria pathway programs.

Initially this initiative will focus on introducing Regional Representative teams from Darwin City, Southern Heat and Katherine Cowboys with long term plans to include a Central Australia platform to support Alice Springs and Tennent Creek.

This NRL NT initiative will create greater access to this level of experience through rugby league engaging more people and deliver a true whole of Northern Territory Representative culture.

2024 NRL NT Territory Junior Championships

Date: Saturday, 6 April 2024

Venue: Territory Rugby League Stadium, Marrara          

Ages: Under 15 Boys (turning 14 or 15 in 2024) and Under 16 Girls (turning 15 or 16 in 2024) as aligned with ASSRL National Championships.

Cost: $50.00 per player, All Players and Staff will receive a specific regional Representative Polo Shirt and Team Photo.

At this stage all on field apparel will be retained for the 2025 Championships.

This payment also assists NRL NT in supporting the relevant associated cost such as participants insurance, on field and off field apparel, match officials, trophies, facility management, servicing and volunteer recognition.

Representative Regions

Darwin City

• Darwin Brothers
• Nightcliff Dragons
• South Darwin Rabbitohs

Southern Heat

• Litchfield Bears
• Palmerston Raiders
• Northern Sharks

Katherine Cowboys

• Local internal player base
• Other remote and regional participants

**Please note we are also working with the NT Education Department with a potential to introduce Invitational teams in the future to cover players who miss out on selection within their region and students who do not play club rugby league.

Championship Draw:

Each team plays each other once before moving into the finals process with the team finishing at the top of the table going straight into the Championship final  and will play the winner of the semi final between the second and third placed teams.

The Championships schedule 

• 10.00am - Boys > Heat v City
• 11.00am - Official Opening Ceremony
• 11.50am - Girls > Heat v City
• 12.40pm - Boys > City v Katherine
• 1.30pm - Girls > City v Heat
• 2.20pm - Boys > Heat v Katherine
  
• 3.20pm Under 16 Girls Championship Final
• 4.20pm Under 15 Boys Championship Final
• 5.15pm- Championships Presentation

**Please note the two girls teams will play a three game series with the Championship decided from the best of three.

Game Length: 20-minute halves with a 5-minute half time break.

How to Participate:

Player - (Online registration): All players and staff MUST be registered with a NRL NT Club and attending school.

Using either of the links below you can register to represent the region your club is aligned with as stated above Darwin City, Southern Heat or Katherine RL

• Under 15’s (turning 14 or 15 in 2024) Schoolboys Registration Link: https://form.jotform.com/230078262203850
• Under 16’s  (turning 15 or 16 in 2024) Schoolgirls Registration Link: https://form.jotform.com/233410075014037

Nominations will be reviewed by coaching staff and be reduced to a final squad of 20. These selections will be based on previous performances or feedback on behaviours from Club delegates.

Team Staff - (Online registration):

• Head Coach (Community Coach Accreditation for 15’s+ essential)
• Assistant Coach/Runner (Community Coach Accreditation for 15’s+ and LeagueSafe essential)
• Regional Representative Coordinator -
• Sports Trainer (Level 1 Sports Trainer Accreditation essential)

Registration Link:  - https://form.jotform.com/230080610167849

Outcomes: A squad of 30 players will be selected to train and trial in the RISE Program for the Northern Territory 15’s Boys or 16’s Girls Representative Teams, traveling to Port Macquarie for the Australian Secondary Schools Championships from the 27^{th of} June to the 5^{th of} July 2024.

This is a summary and will continue to be a work in progress as we are fully committed to building on this exciting new element of NT Rugby League which we believe will assist us in achieving better outcomes for those who are involved at this level and the few that go on to representative our Territory in the NT Titans teams at a national level.

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