Almanac Lunch: Rugby League aficionados gather in Sydney

 

 

 

 

A small but enthusiastic group of rugby league aficionados gathered at the Juniors Kingsford club last Saturday afternoon. With four first rate guest speakers on offer, the afternoon quickly developed a very positive vibe to, hopefully, establish a basis for further events in the Emerald City.

 

Guest speaker No. 1 was Blake Solly, CEO of the Sydney Rabbitohs. In the calm and clear manner of a very capable administrator, Blake recalled his roots in the code and his extensive experience at top management level in both the UK and Australia. He also took his audience through a typical week as CEO, featuring extensive media commitments, the routine of paperwork, taking phone calls from the PM (a keen Rabbitohs fan), more and more meetings, and the processes of game day. Informative, impressive, proud of his club but without a hint of hubris.

 

Blake Solly makes a point

 

Guest speaker No. 2 was Patrick Skene, author, sports management and promotion specialist, and an Almanac contributor from way back. Patrick is a fountain of knowledge, a data fanatic and a left field thinker on expanding sporting opportunities within Australia and across the Pacific region. He has wonderful insights into the intersection of history, culture and sport and talked about the changing demographics of players, particularly in rugby league, and what that might mean moving into the future. Anyone for 23 NRL teams? A different, exciting and challenging way of looking at sport.

 

Patrick Skene shares his thought provoking ideas

 

Guest speaker No. 3 was prolific rugby league writer, author, publisher and former teacher Alan Whiticker. A Penrith man through and through, Alan shared his childhood journey of wanting to be a writer and his growing love of footy, particularly his beloved Panthers. He recounted his struggles to be published and the challenges facing anyone wanting to become a writer. Alan’s vast knowledge of the code was apparent and guests enjoyed his self-deprecating style, his love of the game, and his desire to record its history.

 

Alan Whiticker on becoming a writer

 

Guest speaker No. 4 was the irrepressible Mark Courtney, Rabbitohs tragic, author and footy fan extraordinaire! Mark regaled the audience with stories of his introduction to the code, his growing awareness as a teenager of how he could get to games anywhere in Sydney, and the many friends he has made through the game. He also talked about his contribution to the fight to have South Sydney re-instated into the NRL after they were kicked out of the competition. Energetic, totally committed, a raconteur and everybody’s friend.

 

Mark Courtney in full flight

 

Four wonderful speakers, each in his own different way, all of them passionate about the game, each of them approaching their involvement from a different perspective, all of them warmly received by an appreciative audience. An afternoon to savour indeed.

 

Mark Courtney deserves major thanks for his assistance in organising the venue and ongoing liaison with Juniors Kingsford. He also ‘rounded up’ more than a few ‘troops’ to ensure that we had a quorum!

 

Full marks also to Emily Lyons and her team at Juniors Kingsford for their generous support of our event, their creative approach to the presentation of The Glassroom, and their excellent service throughout the afternoon.

 

A few more photos:

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

All photos courtesy of Anne Bitter and Russel Hansen

 

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To see the details for State of Origin in 2025 click HERE.

 

Our writers are independent contributors. The opinions expressed in their articles are their own. They are not the views, nor do they reflect the views, of Malarkey Publications.

 

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