To say that the newly appointed Harold Matthews Cup Under 17’s Coach Jamie ‘Scissors’ Szczerbanik is well-traveled is an understatement.
The 39-year-old has been involved in rugby league for 30 years as a player or coach, having started in the Wests Tigers Pathways system before playing and coaching stints in Sydney’s West, western NSW, as well as for his native Poland, where he is now Head Coach.
With the Illawarra the latest stop on his rugby league journey, Szczerbanik is charged with passing his rugby league knowledge and life experiences onto the new crop of Steelers.
“I was lucky enough to have a playing career that included a professional system from 15 to 24 with the Wests Tigers, under the guidance of Tim Sheens and his coaching staff.”
After leaving the Tigers system in 2008, Szczerbanik played in various competitions, representing NSW Country, and was captain of Poland, his heritage country, in the Emerging Nations World Cup 2018.
“I started coaching junior rugby league for the Parkes Spacemen U/16s, winning the competition in my first year as a coach in 2014.”
The following year, Szczerbanik coached an undefeated Western Division U/16s in the Country Championships only to get beat on the bell in the Grand Final.
“With the Western Rams, we had (then NSW Coach) Laurie Daley and Matt Parish come out and run some sessions and do some coaching the coaches.”
“I joined the Penrith Panthers soon after that as the Strength and Conditioning Coach for the Junior Elite Training Squad and the U/16s Harold Matthews squad in 2017.
“I also got the call-up as a trainer for the Panthers NSW Cup side, which became State and National Champions the same year.”
Breeding ground
From 2018 to 2023, he was the defensive Coach for the Panthers Jersey Flegg team, boasting 2018 Grand Finalist and 2022 Premiers.
During this stint, Szczerbanik realised Penrith was not only a breeding ground for players but coaches as well, having learned from some of the best in the business in Anthony Griffen, Ivan Cleary, Cameron Ciraldo, and Andrew Webster; the latter two have since become head coaches.
“I’d like to think that I have picked what I thought were the positives from all different coaching styles. I have mashed them together to create my coaching style, which I look forward to bringing to the Steelers and the boys here.
“It’s about giving them a pathway to try and achieve their dream of playing in the NRL.
“Hopefully, we build good young men as well. That’s more important. Good people make good footballers. Good footballers don’t necessarily make good people, so building good young men is our main focus. If they couldn’t play football, they wouldn’t be here in the first place.”
Exciting prospects
And the coach likes what he sees heading into the first trial game this weekend against the St George Dragons.
“It’s a little bit different in western Sydney. You’ve got genuine front rowers and people who identify in key positions and know their roles.
“Down here at the Steelers, everybody is of similar weight and height. Core skill is exceptional across the group, so it’s exciting.
“It allows us to not have to pigeonhole someone. We’ve got some boys here who have never played in the forwards.
“We are lucky that we’ve got that skill set amongst the group, and we can pull players from one position to another and know that they are going to fill that role comfortably, so that’s very exciting.”
Illawarra Steelers Trial Games, Saturday,9 December, Centenary Field, Albion Park
- 9am – Lisa Fiaola U17 Girls v St George
- 10am – Tarsha Gale U19 Girls v St George
- 6.30pm – Harold Matthews U17 Boys v St George
- 7.45pm – SG Ball U19 Boys v St George
