Albany Sea Dragons Rugby League Club to host inaugural Great Southern Nines tournament in new club colours

The Albany Sea Dragons Rugby League Club will make history this weekend when they host the inaugural Great Southern Nines tournament and unveil their new official club colours. The Sea Dragons will host their first official tournament with support from NRL WA and an estimated 100 players from across five teams taking part. Mandurah Storms Rugby League Club, Fremantle Roosters Rugby League Club, Rockingham Sharks Rugby League and Serpentine Jarrahdale Rugby League and Sporting Club will take part in the tournament over two days. Players from Albany, Katanning and Kojonup will make up the Sea Dragons’ 20-man playing squad, and it will also be their first official team in club colours. Last week a final playing squad was selected from training performances and consistency to training. Sea Dragons co-captain Elliott Price said he was looking forward to the first tournament. “This tournament is hopefully the first of many events to happen for rugby league in the Great Southern,” he said. “It is an exciting prospect to be able to play not only rugby league, but rugby league in the Great Southern. “This tournament has been a long time coming and it's a great step towards setting up a new club in the region. “Being selected as co-captain came as a surprise to me but I look forward to it as I love to encourage the guys on the field.” The tournament is expected to draw roughly 80 players from five clubs together and close to 300 spectators. Price said he was confident the local squad can match it with the best teams. “We have a competitive side I believe,” he said. “As we are (composed) of both Albany and Kojonup-Katanning players we haven't had much time to all play together but we will figure it out on the field. “Hopefully, we will get a few wins but some of the teams coming down are just coming out of the regular NRL comp in the metro area so they will be fit and fighting.” The Nines tournament is essentially rugby league but with teams of nine players, shorter game times and minor rule changes. The two-day tournament will be played at the rugby fields on the corner of North Road and Campbell Road, starting at 10am on Saturday and finishing at 8.30pm. The finals will be played Sunday morning while there will be a coaching clinic for under-16s children on Friday afternoon and Sunday morning. NRL WA will also be holding a question-and-answer session at 6pm on Friday.