The South Sydney Rabbitohs are delighted to announce the commencement of a three-year exclusive affiliation agreement with renowned Rugby League school, Keebra Park State High School, which will see the expansion of the Rabbitohs' elite male and female pathways into south-east Queensland.
Keebra Park State High School is regarded as one of the premier sporting schools in Queensland, with a particular focus on Rugby League through the school's male and female academies. This partnership will enable the Rabbitohs to expand its reach into Queensland for elite young players and coaches to add to the talent from the South Sydney district and other recruited players from New South Wales and beyond.
Keebra Park State High School students will have access to elite development opportunities via Rabbitohs coaching staff, a pathway to the Rabbitohs South-East Queensland Elite Player Development Program, potential playing contracts with the Rabbitohs, and an opportunity to work in community and to strive for excellence under the Rabbitohs umbrella. Keebra Park State High School coaching staff will also have professional development opportunities with Rabbitohs coaches. This is all with a view to developing the next generation of players and coaches for the Rabbitohs NRL and, eventually, NRLW teams.
Keebra Park State High School has produced some of the best Rugby League talent of the past two decades including current Rabbitohs player Jai Arrow, former Rabbitohs players Ben Te'o, Benji Marshall, Jesse Arthars, Tautau Moga and Jaxson Paulo, as well as representative players such as Payne Haas, David Fifita, Reece Walsh, Zahara Temara, Moeaki Fotuaika and AJ Brimson.
Rabbitohs Chief Operating Officer, Brock Schaefer, says this exclusive affiliation agreement with Keebra Park State High School will help develop elite talent for South Sydney at the top levels of the game.
“This is a great opportunity for the Club to expand its pathways into Queensland with the best Rugby League school academy in Queensland,” Mr Schaefer said.
“Boys and girls from Keebra Park State High School will have the opportunity to access elite coaching through the Rabbitohs and in turn we will have the chance to have a hand in developing the best young, elite playing and coaching talent in the game.
“We identified in our strategic plan and our recent football department review that ongoing and increased investment in our elite pathway programs is crucial to our success at the NRL and senior levels within our Club. This exclusive affiliation agreement will enhance the work we’re already doing in this space and will provide benefits at the elite levels in the not-too-distant future.
“We’re very excited about this partnership with Keebra Park State High School, which will be led from our end by Tyrone McCarthy who has extensive experience in building academies as well as Queensland Rugby League, and we can't wait to get started as we build into season 2024 and beyond.”
Peter Norman, Keebra Park's Head of Rugby League Academy is also looking forward to the partnership with the Rabbitohs.
“We are extremely excited to have an exclusive partnership agreement with South Sydney. Both organisations share similar values based on caring for our stakeholders and community, whilst the exclusive nature of our agreement will ensure we are able to continue to recruit, retain and develop the best talent well into the future,” Mr Norman said.
“Not only will our students be able to have a direct pathway to a professional sporting career with the most successful NRL club in Rugby League history, they will also have access to the Rabbitohs industry leading health and wellbeing programs to further enhance their holistic development as a well-rounded person.”
