THE inaugural Nations of Origin rugby league competition was a huge success last year and it looks set to be even bigger and better this time around with almost twice the number of teams taking part.
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Part of the NAIDOC week celebrations, the event is designed to promote reconciliation within communities and engage Aboriginal and Torres Strait Islander and non-Aboriginal members in the PCYC through the game of rugby league.
PCYC's Paula Skinner, who has been organising the tournament, said it was shaping up as another bumper two days of sport, made even bigger by the fact Orange would be hosting the first Nations of Origin futsal tournament today.
"Absolutely and it's grown two fold. We've gone from 35 to 64 teams and also added a futsal competition in Orange so it's grown substantially," she said.
"There will be just under 1000 kids competing across the two sports."
The rugby league sevens tournament at Dubbo is bringing together teams from throughout the state and will also involve plenty of activities promoting education and reconciliation.
"From Lismore to Wilcannia, down to Narooma and they're also coming from Sydney and the ACT," Skinner said of the teams attending.
"We've also got a lot more cultural stuff this year, with the NRL's Dream, Believe, Achieve campaign we'll have NRL Ambassadors out here and they'll be holding some classes which will be compulsory for the kids to attend.
"Royal Far West will be here and there will be a career expo with IPROWD and three or four universities there and a performing arts class is coming to a welcome."
The local Wiradjuri side were crowned the inaugural winners last year and will be keen to perform well at their home ground again, while the Eora girls' side was hugely impressive in their run to winning last year and Skinner believes both sides would go close to competing in Thursday afternoon's final again.
There is extra motivation to do well this year with NRL clubs likely to attend the event to cast their eye over the talent and SBS television station NITV reporting from the tournament.
On top of that the two teams which make the final in both the boys' and girls' divisions will have the chance to play in Sydney next month in a NRL curtain-raiser.
"It's fantastic, there's some amazing talent and the NRL, NSWRL and CRL are involved and Ricky Walford (Walgett-born former St George player) will be out here to present the winners," Skinner said.
"The finalists in both the girls and boys will get to play in Sydney before an NRL game during the Close The Gap round in August."
The sporting events begin today with the futsal tournament in Orange before the rugby league starts at 8.30am tomorrow at the ovals around Caltex Park. Matches will run all day tomorrow and Thursday with the finals from 3pm.
