Whilst waiting for the flight home Vice Chairman Cdr Matt Gee RN reflected on the past two weeks in Sydney:
“With a very successful and memorable Royal Navy Rugby League Tour to Sydney complete it is time to return home. Thank you, Randwick Army Barracks, Royal Australian Navy Rugby League, Renown Utd, Coogee Dolphins, Manley Sea Eagles, Sydney Roosters, the Sydney Cricket Ground. To all those RNRL personnel who toured you demonstrated the RN Ethos and were exemplars of professionalism and team work. This has been the very best tour. Big shout out to the RNRL tour sponsors APCL Group and the Royal British Legion, as well as the Royal Navy Sports Lottery”

Following the victory over the RAN Tridents the Brothers had a couple of days R&R in the greater Sydney area taking full advantage of what the city has to offer. Still time for more Rugby League with players taking advantage of the hospitality of the local clubs to watch more matches over the ANZAC weekend. After taking in an ‘Aussie Rules’ Football game at Sydney Cricket Ground earlier in the tour the group returned to the famous SCG for what has become a traditional photo shoot on the hallowed turf. The group was also given a full tour of, arguably, Australia’s most iconic venues with access to areas not normally open to visitors.

So, then it was time for a last health, well being and document check before packing for the trip home. During the final team meeting and on behalf of the players and backroom Dave Brown thanked and congratulated team manager Lt Cdr Jase Steele for the massive amount of work he had put in to put the whole tour together. Jase was presented with an NRL shirt which he asked to be signed by all the group as a lasting memento of Australia 24.

The long haul back to UK was made even longer by a technical snag at the check in desk meaning a take off was delayed by 21/2 hours. A similar problem occurred at the stopover in Kuala Lumpur delaying the return home even more. Finally, after 30 hours travelling the Brothers touched down at Heathrow to bring the 2024 Australian adventure to a close.

Last word then to Chairman Cdr Sean Heaton RN MBE and his post match reaction after the stunning win against the Tridents
'I have no words to say how proud I am of this group of players. Professional, dedicated and loyal to the core. We came here to show that we are the best sports team in Royal Navy, and on ANZAC weekend we did not disappoint.’

Albums of images of the tour are being edited and will be posted in the Media section of the website soon. Unfortunately for copyright reasons footage of the RN v RAN game is no longer available in UK at this time. Efforts are being made to secure a copy of the footage to be posted on our social, watch this space.

Kia Kaha