Dannevirke: Coach all packed for NZRL awards

Jeanne O'Brien, one of the finalists for female volunteer of the year in the New Zealand Rugby League awards, with Bailey Auporui who will be playing for the Tigers next season. Photo / Christine McKay

Among the star-studded list of finalists in the New Zealand Rugby League awards is Dannevirke's Jeanne O'Brien.

And while the judges have named three finalists in most categories the high calibre of candidates for female volunteer of the year, which includes O'Brien, has meant four finalists have been named.

"This is awesome for our region," Sanjay Patel, district manager for Manawatu Rugby League, told the Dannevirke News.

O'Brien is one of four from the Manawatu region finalists for the awards, with winners named at a glitzy evening in Auckland in February next year.

"I will have to leave behind my red bands, trackies, beanie and ice bucket for something a bit more glamorous," O'Brien said. "This nomination is overwhelming."

And O'Brien admits she'll be a bit star-struck at the awards.

"Being in a room with famous rugby league stars, the elite of the game ... players like Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, wow, he's the man."

Prop Jesse Bromwich, lock Tohu Harris, both Melbourne Storm players and fullback Roger Tuivasa-Sheck, Sydney Roosters, are the big names contending for Kiwis Player of the Year at the 2015 NZRL awards.

Bromwich enjoyed another standout NRL season for the Melbourne Storm, consolidating his standing as one of the top front-rowers in the game, while clubmate Harris played every minute of all four tests for the Kiwis this year. Tuivasa-Sheck was named Dally M Fullback of the Year, after switching to the No1 jersey for the Sydney Roosters.

O'Brien said her 15-year involvement with rugby league, predominantly as a manager, is all about doing it for our young people.

"I'm involved in the sport because I'm a sports lover and like to encourage kids and young people to get involved too," she said.

The manager of Tararua Community Youth Services, O'Brien first became involved with the Tigers Rugby League Club when her children played the game and later when the youth services held Friday night drop-ins for young people who also wanted to play league.

"I'd said last year that was it, because managing a league team is burnout material," she said. "But the kids pleaded with me."

With co-operation between O'Brien, former players of the Tigers club which is now in recess, parents, Tararua Community Youth Services and Rangitane, who supplied a bus for the team to travel to Palmerston North every Friday night, the young team made it on to the field.

"Parents cooked a meal for the kids before they left for Palmerston North and I became a part of it because there's a need here. We had a really great year and I didn't want to see them go off and play for a club in the Manawatu as I realise we've got great rugby league blood in this town, so I relented and we put an Under-15 team together and we made it into the grand finals.

"Our young people deserve brilliance, good uniforms, to be well coached and to be fed well and that's what rugby league means to us all. I do it for them, the young people."

And O'Brien is delighted former colleague Peter Butler of Palmerston North is a finalist in the male volunteer of the year category of the awards.

"We both work in youth development and it's a gap filled by people like us as we see opportunities for young people to shine."

O'Brien has always been passionate about keeping the Tigers rugby league brand alive in Dannevirke.

"It [rugby league] fits well with me, it's about caring for our young people and you become absorbed in it," she said.