The Engadine Dragons Rugby League club has appointed a new head coach with former local junior Jason Raper returning home to help build a new local dynasty.
Raper (30) has been playing and coaching for Dapto in the strong semi-professional Group 7, South Coast Rugby League after leaving Engadine to play for Helensburgh for a decade.
Raper said when the chance to come back as A grade coach to his old club came up, he grabbed it.
"The club looks really solid," Jason said
"We won the 17's, Emerging Cup and A grade last year, so we have lots of depth and we want to go back to back."
Engadine Club secretary Jarad Mangioni said the club had never had a kids open day and 82 boys and girls aged from 5-13 turned up last week to play football.
"We are looking to bring a more professional approach to the club," Mangioni said "Good coaches bring up good juniors. We are building for a great future in Engadine."
Raper has brought former Sharks player Stuart Mills with him as a player and assistant coach and former St George playmaker Jamie Soward will help the club with their juniors after teaming up with Henry Perenara and Cronulla Sharks female half Tayla Preston to help run some drills at the clubs open day.
"We also want to encourage the girls League Tag competition," Mangioni said. "Tayla was fantastic with the junior girls."
New coach Raper said seeing Engadine kids having fun playing footy and having a pathway to play top-level Rugby League together from juniors to A-grade is what drives the club.
"We are all ready to go," Raper said
