The Illawarra Steelers are pleased to announce the following coaching appointments for the 2023 NSWRL representative .
Russ Aitken takes charge of SG Ball Cup (Under 19 Boys) from Glenn Buffolin, who will assist Courtney Crawford with Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19 Girls). Both squads will be looking to build on last season’s fifth placing after bowing out in week one of the 2022 Finals Series.
Aaron McDonald takes the reins of the Harold Matthews Cup side (Under 17 Boys), assisted by Adam McGrath as Head Trainer and Strength and Conditioning Coach Vaughan Thistlewaite. McDonald will be hoping for a change of fortune for his new-look squad, enduring a season of injury setbacks before finishing in eighth place.
Meanwhile, the inaugural Illawarra Steelers Harvey Norman NSW Women’s Premiership (HNWP) team has the experienced Alicia Kate-Hawke at the helm, assisted by former St George Illawarra Dragons NRLW coach Daniel Lacey.
After a strong hit-out against the St George Dragons in December, Hawke hopes to finalise her squad mid-January, while the Matts and Ball squads will be finalised following trials against the Raiders and Roosters in January.
The Steelers launch their 2023 campaign in a blockbuster ‘Day of Steel’ headlined by the new HNWP team at WIN Stadium on Sunday, February 5.
- 10:30am – Harold Matthews Cup (Under 17 Boys) Steelers v Penrith Panthers
- 12.00pm – Tarsha Gale Cup (Under 19 Girls) Steelers v Penrith Panthers
- 1:30PM – SG Ball (under 19 Boys) Steelers v Penrith Panthers
- 3:15pm – Harvey Norman NSW’s Premiership Steelers v South Sydney Rabbitohs
Sponsorship News
The Steelers are pleased to announce Coal Services, KJ Scaffolding, and League and Legends (Shellharbour) have joined our ‘Nursery of Champions’ partnership team for 2023.
They join long-term supporters, including Coastwide Engineering, Boab Services, PIMS Group, BaiMed Physiotherapy, and IDM Sports.
Meanwhile, South32 and Harrigan Motor Group have extended their Illawarra competition naming rights partnerships to include support for the Junior Rep and Open Women’s teams.