The 2021 NSW State Oztag Championships were held at Bass Hill at the end of February and Sharks coach John Morris, helped his son's team bring home the gold.
The Under 11s Boy's Sutherland team played in Division Two and had a hard few days of Oztag, including tough matches against Heathcote and Engadine to make it into the final.
Morris was happy to be involved following a tough year in the NRL bubble where he had restricted involvement in his sons sport.
"Both of my boys played ... Cruz is in the Under 11's and Taj is in the Under 9's," he said. "[The Under 9's] bowed out in the quarter finals.
"I helped coach ... I thought it was a good chance to get involved and give something back to the local kids.
"It turned out really well. I made sure they trained pretty hard for it. They trained twice a week for about three months.
"The boys really applied themselves and I think it was that extra fitness training that we did, that really got us home in the end.
"You play nine games in total and it was five back-to-back games on day two ... for an 11-year-old kid that can be quite a bit physically to play at a high level."
Morris had a friendly rivalry with Sharks General Manager of Football, Darren Mooney, whose son's Newcastle side faced Sutherland in the final.
"The dates fell really nicely," said Morris. "We went on our team camp up to the Central Coast and then we came home to a day off, and we were on opposite sides of the sideline.
"Moon's son plays for the Newcastle team. We actually lost to them on day one, so that was our only loss.
"We were hurting a bit come day two, but we met them back in the final again where it was a different outcome. So we're one a piece, but I got the main one."
Morris commended the running of the tournament and how professional it was.
"I must take my hat off to NSW Oztag and Australian Oztag because they've had some league guys come onboard and ... the tournament was really professionally run," he said.
"There was lots of talent out there. NRL players, ex-NRL players and their kids out there playing. Even Aiden Tolman and Bryson Goodwin.
"The Sutherland Shire is very strong in Oztag, both in registration numbers and in talent.
"So it is great for the area that it is doing so well and it was great for us to bring home a gold medal."
Finn Coleman
I understand the importance of community news in highlighting stories that members of local communities care about - including events, businesses, sports and the people that make towns unique. Email me at finn.coleman@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0437 550 909
I understand the importance of community news in highlighting stories that members of local communities care about - including events, businesses, sports and the people that make towns unique. Email me at finn.coleman@austcommunitymedia.com.au or call 0437 550 909
