When the Parramatta Eels NRLW team practiced in Kiama before their season opener on July 3, there was blue and gold everywhere you looked at Chittick Oval. In the opening match of the NRLW season, the Eels, led by Kiama native Kate Parkinson, will play the Cronulla Sharks. In order to prepare for the next challenge, they decided to hold their training camp at Kiama’s immaculate seaside facilities.
“The Eels are just the latest in a growing list of professional teams taking advantage of what the Kiama region has to offer,” said Ashton Sims, operations manager for Group 7. “The sheer number of NRLW and NRL teams that have trained here over the years is amazing,” Sims added. The Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Parramatta Eels, St George Illawarra Dragons, and even the Australian Kangaroos in 2021 have all played during my tenure.
NRLW teams including the Wests Tigers, Dragons, and now the Eels have also played here. According to Sims, the appeal is straightforward: Kiama offers a respite from the bustle of the city and the ideal environment for concentrated, excellent training. “With the Kiama Showground, Chittick Oval by the ocean, and the gym at The Sebel, the facilities here are fantastic—it’s the perfect environment for elite teams,” he remarked.
With more than 200 first-grade games under his belt, Sims is a former NRL veteran who understands the importance of camps like this in fostering team cohesion. “Your team becomes your family when you’re not around them.” Building such relationships off the field is essential because it translates to trust and connection on the field, he stated. “You can devote all of your attention to football.” The Penrith Panthers have been training here for the past few years, and their accomplishments are proof enough. The Panthers left some of their winning magic in Kiama, and the Eels NRLW squad is still vying for its first premiership. They will be hoping to catch it in time.
