Encouraging Early Signs for Rugby League’s Return to Tennant Creek
A Sporting Solution for Everyone, All Year-Round Touch, Tag & Tackle
The early signs are very encouraging as NRL NT begins discussions with the Tennant Creek community about re-establishing a local rugby league presence in the Barkly region.
NRL NT’s first objective is to create a local working group from the expressions of interest received, ensuring that the direction, delivery, and long-term sustainability of rugby league and touch football in Tennant Creek are driven by the community itself.
Initial conversations with residents, community leaders, and sporting representatives have been overwhelmingly positive, highlighting a genuine appetite to bring the game back to the area and create new opportunities for young people, families, and adults of all abilities.
The vision for Tennant Creek is to establish a new, inclusive club model that provides the community with a sporting solution for everyone, all year round, offering Rugby League, League Tag, and Touch Football as a united pathway for participation, development, and community connection.
The first stage of the plan will include a Junior Gala Day, Senior Men’s Nines, and Women’s League Tag event a fun, inclusive way to reconnect the community with the game while building excitement and participation at every level.
In the lead-up to the event, NRL NT and Touch Football NT development staff are exploring the potential to deliver a school blitz program across the Barkly, introducing students to the games and inspiring the next generation of players, coaches, referees, and volunteers.
Alice Springs Brothers Rugby League Club will be invited to participate and share in the experience, helping strengthen the connection between Tennant Creek and the broader Central Australian sporting community.
This initiative will form the foundation of a longer-term plan to ensure Tennant Creek is more closely aligned with NRL NT’s territory wide calendar including Alice Springs activities in particular and opportunities to be part of major events such as the Tamboran Resources Top End Cup and the Territory Junior Championships.
As always, a strong volunteer base will be key to success, good people with a passion for their community and a desire to make a difference through sport.
Please register your interest in the working group here - https://forms.office.com/r/DhjpuFDd79
Images of Purkiss Reserve, Tennant Creek
