Jonty Greeff, Hudson Murphy and Zavier Frahm were cooling off in the ice bath after a busy day of  touch football in the heat on Saturday at the Beyond The Nest camp at Murgon Showgrounds

January 23, 2025

Two big Beyond The Nest camps have kept young South Burnett rugby league players busy brushing up their skills during the school holidays.

Last weekend, Murgon Showgrounds and the adjacent South Burnett PCYC hosted the annual three-day boys’ camp.

A total of 85 youngsters aged from 13 to 17 camped at the PCYC in their swags and sleeping bags.

On Friday, Dolphins NRL Academy skills coach David Stagg and game development managers Shane Morris and Troy Clarkson led the players through skills development sessions.

They were joined by “the Axe”, legendary former Maroon and Bronco Trevor Gilmeister who shared his wisdom about how to survive the NRL (and life) with the boys.

On Friday night, the boys helped out at a special dinner for sponsors at the PCYC.

On Saturday, there was more skills development with QRL player Blake Mara – who has had a long connection with the South Burnett – and games of touch played in the scorching heat.

SBRL game development co-ordinators Scott Prendergast and Carl Braithwaite organised the camp with the help of many volunteers, including former Beyond The Nest players who came back to help.

Scott said the weekend had been really positive and he was especially proud of the teenagers who had volunteered to come back to help after going through the program themselves in past years.

On Sunday, the finals of the touch competition were played after a morning yoga session.

SBRL game development co-ordinator Scott Prendergast with Trevor Gilmeister on Friday (Photo: SBRL)
Coach Matt Jones with Scott Prendergast at the PCYC “camping area”
The Beyond The Nest boys head off on Saturday afternoon to Murgon Swimming Pool

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The girls’ Beyond The Nest camp in Kingaroy (Photo: Kristin Dowdle)

A week earlier, female players had their turn at camping out at the inaugural Beyond The Nest camp for girls.

Girls aged from 11 to 16 gathered at Saint Mary’s Catholic College in Kingaroy from January 10-12.

More than 30 players camped in the Maryknoll Centre on the Friday and Saturday nights.

They were put through their paces on Carroll Oval under the watchful eye of SBRL girls co-ordinator Ben Jeffs and a team of volunteers.

A highlight of this three-day camp was a visit by several Western Clydesdales women players who took the girls through skills and drills training.

They also had the opportunity to listen to guest speakers, including Bridie Prendergast who shared her journey from junior player to referee.

Footnote: “Beyond The Nest” refers to the fact that the fledgling players are gaining the skills to become “South Burnett Eagles”. 


 

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