Five Kimberley players selected to represent region in North West Reds rugby league teams

After a lengthy selection process, six players from the Broome Jets have been selected for the North West Reds rugby league teams.

Jesse Wood, Aston Burgess, Jack Baguley, Kael Nunn and Jaime Cooke all made the North West Reds under-13s team while Fletcher Moase made the under-15s team.

Before the boys were chosen to be on the teams they took part in an extensive selection process, playing games in the North West competition against teams from towns in the Kimberley and Pilbara.

North West Reds coach Matthew Corpus said the selection was a gruelling process which required hundreds of kilometres of travel.

“Between the clubs, each month we travel a total of almost 3500km for every training camp, as well as accommodate and feed 45 kids for a weekend,” he said.

“With accommodation, travel, meals, hire vehicles and parents travelling to watch theirs kids the cost can easily hit $90,000.

“To live in such a large State and have limited exposure to the sport of rugby league, I really take my hat off to everyone in the North West region who pull together to make this possible.

“We’re also lucky enough to have some really amazing sponsors who all do their bit to help out.”

The North West Reds will fly to Perth in April to compete in a Statewide five-team competition including Southern Pride, Northern Fusion, Invitational Schools and the South West Dolphins.

The competition is run by NRLWA and is played over three days, culminating in the best players being selected to join the WA State team and compete on the national level.

Corpus said everything coming together for the tournament always proved special.

“It’s a pretty proud moment for myself as a coach to know that all the hard work that the kids put in throughout the year and the commitment that we have to make to travel throughout the whole of the Northwest is worth it,” he said.

“The mammoth effort, commitment and general passion for the game by all involved in the Reds is what makes us tick — it all starts from grass roots footy.

“We are all excited and can’t wait to show our talent.”