Trangie based Rugby League star, Jessica Skinner, is lending her coaching expertise to the Castlereagh League at Gilgandra tomorrow (Sunday 28 January).

At the same time, Castlereagh clubs will meet to finalise entries into the 2024 competition which is slated to start in April.

Castlereagh League Secretary, Bryson Luff said the League's first training session for the season had already been fantastic.

They trained in sweltering heat at Narromine under the guidance of the 2023 Clayton Cup and Castlereagh League premiership winning coach, Brad James from Gulgong.

Mr Luff reported that the enthusiastic Cougars squad gave their all in a session that more than anything proved their commitment to being involved in the Rams trials.

"Our League includes Gulgong, Cobar, Gilgandra, Narromine, Dunedoo, Binnaway, Coonabarabran, Baradine, Coonamble and Coolah. Players demonstrated their commitment to the team by travelling vast distances to attend and the vibe around the training session was extremely positive and augurs well for a good showing from the Castlereagh team in the Western trials," he said

In Gilgandra on Sunday, Ms Skinner will be conducting a free coach the coaches’ workshop for all Castlereagh League, Group 14 Junior Rugby League and Castlereagh Women’s Rugby League coaches.

Ms Skinner started her Rugby League journey in the inaugural League Tag competition of the Castlereagh Rugby League district and seven years later was appointed assistant coach of the Jillaroos for the World Cup last year.

Her journey and influence, in both League Tag and tackle between 2015 to 2022 when she helped coach Australia to a dominant 54-4 win over New Zealand at Old Trafford, has been recognised by Castlereagh Rugby League Inc.

Skinner began playing League Tag in 2015. She was a regular in representative sides, was assistant coach to the Western Rams team, and in 2017 won the Castlereagh League Tag Premiership as head coach of the Warren Bulldogs. She became assistant coach with the Newcastle Knights’ NRLW side in 2021

She even has a competition in her honour – the Jessica Skinner Cup.

“Jess still lives in Trangie and she’s just an exceptional leader and role model for both females and Indigenous players,” Mr Luff said.

“She’s very level-headed and just attracts people to her through her humility and down-to-earth attitude. When I rang her to tell her we wanted to name the Cup in her honour she said, ‘I feel like crying’. So, you could hear how much it meant to her. It’s well-deserved as she’s given so much to Rugby League everywhere and particularly in the Castlereagh area.”

Mr Luff said the League was delighted Ms Skinner, one of the most elite coaches in Australian rugby league was willing to help out.

"To name but two of her recent achievements she is currently the assistant coach to the Australian Jillaroos and is also the head coach of the Indigenous Women’s All Stars team that will be playing in Townsville in a few weeks against the Māori All Stars," Mr Luff said.

"She is the first female to be appointed a head coaching position in the history of the All-Stars games and is totally passionate about her involvement with the game of rugby league and equally passionate about supporting clubs and players in the Castlereagh League area where her amazing journey began and where she still resides."