A coaching team from the Brisbane Broncos was in Dunedin yesterday and will be in Invercargill and Queenstown today to take coaching clinics for young players and coaches.
Brisbane Broncos elite player development manager Simon Scanlan said he struck up a relationship with New Zealand Rugby League southern zone manager Steve Martin a few years ago and wanted to grow the game in the South Island.
Scanlan said it was not a case of coming to the South to cherry-pick the best talent.
"We have got a responsibility to develop the game. Not just get the best players and take them out of the region," Scanlan said.
"The club has to grow the game and that is what the Broncos are about.
"We try to encourage the best players to stay in the region at least until they finish school. The opportunities for some kids the further you get away from Auckland are limited. The level of competition and the coaching is probably not as high."
He said the Broncos were not looking to bring a huge group of New Zealanders into their system. At the most they would have two or three players
through each age-group at the club.
One of those who had walked that journey was former John McGlashan College First XV captain Rory Ferguson, who joined the Broncos once he finished school in 2016.
Ferguson, off a dairy farm near Milton, has now finished going through the Broncos under-20 system and gone out to a feeder club.
Scanlan said Ferguson was a fantastic role model for young New Zealanders who went over to an NRL club.
He had worked hard, listened and done everything which was asked of him, Scanlan said.
Scanlan said that was important when looking at players as the club was looking for good character and attitude as in the end that is what would get the player ahead. Talent only went so far, especially in a highly competitive environment such as the NRL.
He said rugby was obviously a big draw for youngsters in New Zealand but league was working hard.
Included in the Broncos coaching group yesterday was former first grade centre Jack Reed. The former English international played more than 100 games for the Broncos before a shoulder injury ended his career a couple of years ago.
