2015 106th Annual Report Contents Chairman’s Report | 04 Aaron Woods | 05 Office Bearers 1908-2015 | 06 Balmain Junior League Board of Directors | 07 General Manager's Report | 08 Major Sponsors | 10 2015 District Rep. Secretary's Report | 12 NRL Game Development Report | 13 John Chalk | 15 Events | 16 Tigers Annual Awards Night | 20 Where your Chris Karas at the Balmain Junior League Grand Finals | 27 - Under 9 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 9 Div 2 Grand Final - Under 9 Div 3 Grand Final - Under 10 Div 1 Grand Final Loved one - Under 10 Div 2 Grand Final - Under 10 Div 2 Cougars Girls goes from your - Under 11 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 11 Div 2 Grand Final - Under 12 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 12 Div 2 Grand Final - Under 13 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 14 Div 1 Grand Final Family - Under 16 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 16 Div 2 Grand Final to ours Accredited Events | 41 Tributes | 47 Online Funeral Quote please visit www.mannings.com.au or phone (02) 9555 7551 Contents Chairman’s Report | 04 Aaron Woods | 05 Office Bearers 1908-2015 | 06 Balmain Junior League Board of Directors | 07 General Manager's Report | 08 Major Sponsors | 10 2015 District Rep. Secretary's Report | 12 NRL Game Development Report | 13 John Chalk | 15 Events | 16 Tigers Annual Awards Night | 20 Where your Chris Karas at the Balmain Junior League Grand Finals | 27 - Under 9 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 9 Div 2 Grand Final - Under 9 Div 3 Grand Final - Under 10 Div 1 Grand Final Loved one - Under 10 Div 2 Grand Final - Under 10 Div 2 Cougars Girls goes from your - Under 11 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 11 Div 2 Grand Final - Under 12 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 12 Div 2 Grand Final - Under 13 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 14 Div 1 Grand Final Family - Under 16 Div 1 Grand Final - Under 16 Div 2 Grand Final to ours Accredited Events | 41 Tributes | 47 Online Funeral Quote please visit www.mannings.com.au or phone (02) 9555 7551 Chairman’s Report AARON WOODS Early Morning setup at Birchgrove Oval With the 2015 Balmain Junior Rugby League season well and truly Throughout the 2015 season I behind us we are already planning for the new season. However, I was able to ground manage at am sure you will agree that the quality of junior football has once Birchgrove several times and again been outstanding in 2015. For that to happen, it takes many when time allowed I attended hours of dedication each week from the band of "hands on" some of our club grounds. On my visits I encountered many volunteers. To those people we have the upmost respect. dedicated volunteers (families) working from early morning until late in the evening. AARON WOODS - Leichhardt Cub We fielded 121 teams from U/6 to A-Grade spread over eleven clubs. These community volunteers deliver kids to the grounds Our season would not be successful if it were not for the to Tigers' Test enforcer (parents), set-up the grounds run the games, work in canteens, dedication and support of our General Manager Jennie Webster, By CHRIS KARAS attend countless meetings and the necessary courses required for Patron Mick Manning and our eleven Board Directors. a duty of care. FROM the training fields at King George Park Rozelle to the tough Our Major Sponsors painAWAY Ryde Eastwood Leagues Club and cauldron of Origin and Test rugby league – that's the amazing Some of our kids are fortunate to represent their District at Rep Balmain Tigers Rugby League Football Club have been journey for Wests Tigers' international prop Aaron Woods. level whilst their team-mates repeatedly turn up for the mateship tremendous in so many ways. and fun of the game. Leichhardt Juniors' favourite son has carved out an impressive I would like to give a mention to Mr Jack King who attends our career with the Tigers since making his NRL top grade debut back As in the past, this season presented us with some difficult Grand Final Day every year where he presents to our junior teams, in 2011. challenges. We had 4 washed out rounds and many other training that is the level of passion Jack still has for the game. nights cancelled. The winter gave us freezing weather, torrential The strong running Woods enjoyed success in the Leichhardt I was particularly impressed at the Harold Matts & S.G Ball Tigers rain, flooded grounds and summer heat. Still, we made it through jumper at Balmain Junior League level – leading the club to Woods realised another childhood dream when he was appointed Jersey Presentation night where Kyle Lovett, Mitch Moses, Luke to our successful Grand-Final Day on Leichhardt Oval where we premiership victories in U/8s and U/11s before stamping his mark Wests Tigers' captain for the 2016 NRL season. Brooks, Curtis Sironen and Aaron Woods all arrived to present the witnessed some sizzling football. in the Tigers' Harold Matthews Cup and S.G Ball Cup teams. young Cubs with their bags of gear. This band of NRL Cubs have The 24 year old powerhouse, who has established himself as one During the season I had the pleasure to attend many club not forgotten where it all started. He teamed with the likes of South Sydney half Adam Reynolds of the game's top forwards in recent seasons, replaces club legend functions and celebrations which were outstanding. They included before going on to represent the Australian Schoolboys in Test Robbie Farah as first grade skipper. Throughout the season, Jennie and I have worked extremely hard the Balmain Referees 100th year, Cougar's 50th year, Wests Tigers victories over the touring England Academy and French Juniors. to cement and continue our working relationship with both the Aaron has played 110 NRL games for Wests Tigers since making his Grand-Final Luncheon, NSWRL Volunteer Awards and the Balmain Balmain Referees Association and our Senior Club. debut in 2011. JRL Life Members Luncheon. At all of these functions it was quite After helping Holy Cross Rhinos capture an U/18s premiership title, the fresh faced Woods burst into the Wests Tigers' U/20 ranks evident that our BDJRL is held in high regard. In particular Danny Stapleton, Dr Leslie Glen, Scott Todd and Paul The ball playing prop has also appeared in five Tests for Australia where he spearheaded a 2009 Grand Final appearance. Sironen often give up their valuable time to support our Junior and seven State of Origin games for NSW. League. In 2014 Aaron joined a select band of Balmain rugby league Wests Tigers Head Coach Jason Taylor said that Woods was an ideal juniors to represent the Australian Kangaroos. Thanks again to everyone for your support of our Junior League candidate for the role. and we hope to see you back on the park in 2016. After powerful displays for the Prime Minister's X111 against “Aaron never takes a backwards step, whether on or off the field, Papua New Guinea, Woods earned a green and gold Test jumper and has proven himself again and again to be a leader at this Club,” with Tim Sheens' Kangaroos for the 2014 Four Nations said Taylor. tournament. “It's a testament to his character and integrity that someone so Other Balmain juniors to represent Australia include Charles young has been selected to captain this club. Long before being 'Chook' Fraser, Reg Latta, Bill Schultz, Albert 'Ricketty' Johnston, named as captain Aaron was seen as a leader here and it will be Jack 'Junker' Robinson, Jim Craig, Horrie Watt, George Bishop, Sid great to see how he develops further. Goodwin, Frank Griffiths, George Watt, Fred de Belin, Tom Tyrrell, Don Furner, Bill Marsh, Jack Sinclair, Frank Drake, Geoff Connell, Woods is a Leichhardt Junior to the core – when he's not preparing wood President John Critchley with Concord Bur John Critchley Dennis Tutty, Geoff Starling, Bobby Grant, Ian Thomson, Wayne for an NRL fixture with the Tigers or Origin clash for NSW, he can y Aida Catalano Bill Ibrahim and Secretar Chairman Pearce, John Muggleton, Ben Elias, Steve Roach, Paul Sironen, Tim be found coaching aspiring Leichhardt juniors at his old stamping Balmain District Junior Rugby League Brasher and Robbie Farah. ground. 04 2015 106th Annual Report 2015 106th Annual Report 05 Chairman’s Report AARON WOODS Early Morning setup at Birchgrove Oval With the 2015 Balmain Junior Rugby League season well and truly Throughout the 2015 season I behind us we are already planning for the new season. However, I was able to ground manage at am sure you will agree that the quality of junior football has once Birchgrove several times and again been outstanding in 2015. For that to happen, it takes many when time allowed I attended hours of dedication each week from the band of "hands on" some of our club grounds. On my visits I encountered many volunteers. To those people we have the upmost respect. dedicated volunteers (families) working from early morning until late in the evening. AARON WOODS - Leichhardt Cub We fielded 121 teams from U/6 to A-Grade spread over eleven clubs. These community volunteers deliver kids to the grounds Our season would not be successful if it were not for the to Tigers' Test enforcer (parents), set-up the grounds run the games, work in canteens, dedication and support of our General Manager Jennie Webster, By CHRIS KARAS attend countless meetings and the necessary courses required for Patron Mick Manning and our eleven Board Directors.