Group Three board member Ellie Markezic is our guest, She's been around the game for most of her life and created history two years ago when she became the first woman appointed to the Group Three board. It's a role she enjoys and hopes to continue into the future.
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00:00Hello, welcome to On the Bench. I'm Marty from the Port Macquarie News. I'm joined here
00:07with Mick Macdonald from the Manning River Times, who has once again given me the hosting
00:11duties. And we're here with our special guest, Ellie Markozyk. Ellie, thank you for coming
00:17in.
00:18Thanks for having me.
00:19She's the Group 3 Board Director and also Rugby League Trailblazer. Mick, do you want
00:24to do some duties?
00:25We can do that.
00:26Housekeeping?
00:28Thanks, beautiful. Thanks, Martin. Yeah, of course, we're sponsored by Classic Design
00:31Jewellers of Taree. It doesn't matter where the segment is filmed. And also the Manning
00:35River Hotel Player of the Week is Brendan McKenzie from the Taree City Reserve. He had
00:39a blinder last week when the Bulls wrapped up a spot in the Top 5. And games this weekend
00:45are deferred from, I think, Round 8. Is it, Ellie, if I'm remembering this weekend?
00:48Yes.
00:49There's only three matches. On Saturday, Port City plays Wingham at Port Macquarie.
00:55Warhope hosts the Old Bar Porus, obviously, at Warhope. And in the other game, Port Sharks,
01:01who look like they're going to be the minor premiers, head down to Taree to play Taree
01:04City Bulls. And that'll be the Bulls' last game for the season.
01:07And also on this weekend, too, are the Group 3 Junior Rugby League Grand Finals. Friday
01:11night at the League Tag at Stewart Park, Port Macquarie. Saturday, the Modder League Games,
01:16Grout Grades, and one of the girls, I think, the 13s match at Wingham. And the international
01:21games at Lake Kaddai on Sunday. So it's a big weekend for local footy, Marty.
01:25And a big round as well this weekend, too. Not a big round, but it's an important round.
01:29There's a couple of big games there. Warhope needs to win it now, Ellie, to get fourth
01:35spot.
01:36Yes. Yes, it'll be an interesting game. I think it's going to be a bit of a tough one.
01:43Well, the Pirates have had some mixed news last night from the judiciary. They had two
01:48players, John Stanley and Mick Henry, a reporter from last week's loss to Wingham. You know
01:53the result there, Ellie?
01:55Yes. So two at the judiciary last night. Mick Henry wasn't charged. It was not proven. The
02:05evidence just wasn't there to support it. And the other player got two weeks.
02:11John Stanley.
02:12John Stanley. It's, I think, really important to note that our judiciaries do go independently.
02:20We, as Group 3, don't run our own judiciary, just to make sure that everything's fair and
02:27biased. Or non-biased, I should say. There's no kind of history there. And having the guys
02:35up north do it is a lot easier for us, that's for sure. It brings less heat to the directors'
02:44table on game days.
02:45Yes, it certainly makes it, as you say, takes the club bias aspect out of the things too.
02:51But last week, like last weekend's round, sort of upset things in Group 3 in the way
02:56it was heading, that Old Bar were cruising on to be in the minor premiers. If any second
03:01we would have thought. And, of course, Wingen beat the Pirates last week, 18-16, biggest
03:06upset of the year. Now the Pirates, the best they can do is finish second. Well, they'll
03:10finish second regardless of what happens on Saturday at Warhope. But they're also talking
03:15about resting a few players, going into next weekend's preliminary semi-final at the Old
03:22Bar. They'll play McLeod Valley at the Old Bar next Sunday week. And on Saturday, Wingen
03:29will play Warhope. We're not quite sure where they'll be. They'll be either at Wingen or
03:32Warhope. Big thing for the Sharks, Mark. They're all of a sudden minor premiers.
03:36Yes, I know. It is big news. So, yes, very exciting for the Sharks. I mean, they've worked
03:41so hard. It wasn't just given to them from that upset. They've made sure to have a really
03:46good season and they've planned that since the pre-season. So it's a credit to them as
03:50well, especially if they get the win to close out the regular season.
03:54I'll do that and I'll beat Terry Smith at Tim O'Strom.
03:57You never know, you never know.
03:58They'll beat that and I'll win that.
04:00Yes, so that's a really good credit. And Ellie, you're from Warhope. What have you thought
04:04of the Warhope Blues season? Obviously it's been a standout for them.
04:08Yes, it's been nice to see them get some wins on the board and it's really encouraging for
04:13the boys and the women. Getting some wins obviously helps with the morale of the club
04:21and they had a big restructure through their committee this year, so that's really different
04:27for them as well. So credit to them finding the wins in there whilst finding their sea
04:33legs as well with a new committee. It is nice to see them get a win and the boys celebrating
04:40in the sheds sometimes.
04:43Because it was a terrible year last year, wasn't it? One of the worst in the club's
04:48recent history certainly. Are you surprised that they've gone as well as they have?
04:52Not surprised. I've not been a group director for very long. This is only my second year,
05:01third year being quite heavily involved. It just goes to show that any club needs a rebuilding
05:10year and needs that year to be at the bottom before they can come back. Port City, prime
05:16example. Last year we were seeing Port City everywhere and unfortunately they've not had
05:23the best year. I think sometimes it just needs a bit of a shake up and the boys from Warhope
05:31were very determined this year and really dedicated to training, so it's paid off for them.
05:37There were already a few rumours about Port City for next year. I don't think they'll
05:40be at the bottom of the table next year. That is a big bit of a slap in the face for all
05:45the breakers. I think it's fair to say that. We had Tim on at the start of the season there
05:50and Tim Donovan, the coach, he indicated that they're probably not going to have a premiership
05:55when he sees me. He tended to think they're going to be competitive. They haven't really
05:58been competitive the last few weeks. They can finish last. Unless they can beat Wigan
06:02tomorrow, they can finish last. I don't think they've ever finished last. If they haven't,
06:08it would be right back when the club started. It would have been a very long time. It's
06:13probably not something they're used to. As you've seen from Warhope's year this year,
06:18I don't think we should get too used to it. It can change at the drop of a hat.
06:22Speaking to Tim, I think he acknowledged that he's not really looking... Results are great
06:28if they go your way, but also he knows that he's got a young side now and that it will
06:33take a long time for them to get the combinations right and everything. As long as they're putting
06:38in effort week in, week out, he knows that this was going to be a rebuilding season.
06:43Hopefully they don't like to stay down for long though. They'll find a way to make a
06:50statement next year. He's got a very young side, so it's going to take a bit of time
06:56to get those combinations to make sure that the players are stepping up and earning that
07:00jersey, that first grade side as well.
07:03They made the first grand final in 2007. I think it was 2002 or 2003 from memory. I was
07:09known then as the Cavaliers because I was sponsored by a building firm up here. They
07:13made the grand final in 2007 and got beaten by the Bulls. As it turns out, the Bulls lost
07:19Premiership, but ever since then they've been a powerhouse. They've been closer to first
07:23than last and they've won probably three or four comps in that time. They've been the
07:26most consistent club in Group 3 in that time.
07:30They're very lucky to have the strong junior base. Junior breakers are a really strong
07:36club from their committee down to their players. They're all really dedicated and the same
07:41goes for the breakers committee and the seniors. Having that really good strong committee there
07:47to foster that young team up through as long as they stay together. Having a young side
07:52stay together for a couple of years can be quite an interesting story. I think they can
07:58do that.
07:59Yeah, definitely. A lot of clubs now are looking to their juniors to make sure that the first
08:05grade side is coming from their junior base. I know some clubs like to buy other players
08:11too and imports and everything, which is really great to foster their team. A lot of clubs
08:18now are turning to their juniors and making sure that it's a home-grown club.
08:22I think that that is where the player point system comes in and as frustrating as it is
08:28for a lot of the clubs to be looking at their points.
08:31Do you understand that?
08:32No, absolutely not. I've tried to get my head around it a few times and if I kept going
08:39I wouldn't have as much hair as I do now because it got very complicated.
08:43That's what happened to me.
08:44It got very complicated but I think it's important to acknowledge that that player point system
08:51whilst it's frustrating, it is really good for the junior clubs because it does force
08:56clubs to foster their own junior competition. It is hard in instances. Old Bar don't really
09:04have a junior side of their own or a strong...
09:09Old Bar? The Pirates?
09:10Yeah.
09:11They're one of the biggest junior clubs in the competition.
09:14Well, they claim not to.
09:18They've gone from under-16s through to under-16s. They're doing okay.
09:21They were under-16s in the grand final this weekend and those are their 15s I think too,
09:26so they're doing alright.
09:27It may not have been the case last year then.
09:30I think it was.
09:31I heard a lot in the points competition from them getting discounts for Taree juniors
09:40being that they didn't have as strong...
09:44No, I don't get that in the highest court. They're very strong.
09:48They're one of the biggest junior league clubs in the competition. I'm pretty sure why wouldn't...
09:53Yeah, right. I haven't looked at their player stats to see how many players that they do have
09:59but their senior sides definitely come from all over, don't they?
10:03Yeah, well I think there was a bit of a gulf between their juniors and their senior players.
10:09I think players are starting to come through now.
10:12There was a time when they still didn't have a lot of senior players.
10:16You never really know around here because you don't always keep your kids.
10:20But in theory now they should start flowing through from say 16s through to 18s
10:27and hopefully through to their senior grades.
10:29They're doing alright.
10:30The Pirates, I think, would be a lot of clubs that would be doing as tough as them
10:33as far as junior numbers are concerned.
10:35Actually, I was talking to Robbie Payne. We had Robbie from the Foster-Toncurry, the coach.
10:38He was our guest last week and he was saying how he's 40-something Robbie
10:44and how he didn't have to play this year. He was pleased with that.
10:47Then on Saturday he ran out for the last 16 minutes because they were a bit short of numbers.
10:51He had a few injuries to the Hawks.
10:53He scored a try and then dropped the ball when the Hawks were pressing to win the game.
10:57So he's had a bit of a mixed 16 minutes.
11:00But he said they're already looking at next year.
11:04They had massive problems last year.
11:06They've made some progress this year but he said they're already looking at next year.
11:11So it's good to see the Hawks hopefully back on the move next year.
11:14Robbie will be coaching them again.
11:16They've been a while since they've had a strong Foster-Toncurry side.
11:20It would be great to see them back up towards the top again and knock the pasting sides off.
11:25That's not likely.
11:27I have a really strong view of the committee.
11:30It's really good to see Justin back in the top of Foster and helping bring everything back together.
11:38I really believe that a committee is really important behind a side.
11:44With just a coach not getting the support from the committee and everything,
11:48they need to run a day and to be successful.
11:52I think it's good to have Justin back. He's always been very handy.
11:57He's been a great worker for the Hawks.
11:59I was swept to a couple of their games this year and given their results weren't great on the field,
12:03they had big crowds out there.
12:05You can only imagine how they do get a side that's good enough to challenge for the premiership.
12:13They'll pack the place.
12:14You said it's your third year on the board?
12:16Yes.
12:17Enjoying it?
12:18Yes. Sorry, it's my second year as a director.
12:22But third year being more involved than I was, not being directly associated with a club.
12:29I come in from War Hope Blues and being quite involved with War Hope
12:34and stepping back out of that into just being a director and being focused on all of the other clubs.
12:44It's hard to find a director that doesn't have a club base.
12:49You have to come from somewhere, obviously.
12:52My family was heavily involved in War Hope for quite some years and isn't as much anymore.
12:58They have a new committee that are willing to step up and take it on.
13:05I've been able to step back out of that quite a bit and focus on the group three directors
13:12and also the Mid North Coast Women's Tackle Association.
13:17I'm the secretary for Mid North Coast Women's Tackle Association as well.
13:21It's quite a heavy workload but the women are absolutely on fire
13:28and it is picking up very quickly as we thought it would.
13:32Speaking of the Mid North Coast Women's Rugby League, they're playing a catch-up round
13:37and it seems like Lauriton and Maclay Valley are looking good and War Hope not far behind them.
13:42How have you thought of this season for that?
13:44Really, really good.
13:46Being there from the conception of what we have now as Mid North Coast Women's Tackle Association.
13:53It was previously run under Hastings League and group sides were wanting to get involved.
14:00It is really hard to run under one or the other when there's two competing associations wanting in.
14:08Forming Mid North Coast Women's Tackle has been fantastic.
14:12Having a committee, though be it a very small committee, to give them their own association
14:19and focus on the women. The girls are improving leaps and bounds.
14:25Even the teams at the very bottom, you're just watching the improvement every day,
14:31being fostered by the clubs and having the committee that goes with a full club
14:37and the men's teams looking to them and supporting them and the women doing the same for the men's.
14:45It's really nice to see that they can come together and have their own position.
14:50So you're totally autonomous from the groups around Hastings League, a different committee altogether?
14:55Yes.
14:56Different judiciary and all that sort of stuff?
14:58Correct. It is quite unknown.
15:01We are a very fresh association, only forming last year.
15:07It is really hard to run over a couple of different draws and working out finals.
15:15Even where people are going to play, it's really hard for the girls to travel away for a game
15:20when the men's teams are at home and wanting to offer that support.
15:24The same with the men wanting to offer their support for the women's.
15:27We just have to remember that we're only second year in
15:32and I'm really confident that we will continue to grow.
15:36The women in rugby league are popping up everywhere.
15:40Is there many playing league tag in tackle or is it one at a time?
15:46There's a few.
15:48There's a select group of girls that didn't want to give up the league tag
15:53and that played league tag because we didn't really have the tackle opportunities for them.
15:59So they haven't just left the league tag.
16:03It is a really long day for them though, as you can imagine,
16:06playing league tag and then going into a tackle game.
16:10There are girls that do it successfully and there are others that started off in two
16:15and are now just playing one.
16:18Whether it be league tag or tackle, they've given it a go
16:23but I think ultimately two games on any given day is very tough.
16:28There were fears, and I had Maljorie on last year,
16:31and there were fears that you'd have neither one thing or another.
16:34You'd have a half-baked league tag with three or four teams
16:37and a half-baked women's league with three or four teams.
16:39That hasn't been the case.
16:41League tags back this year were eight sides and seven sides in the women's comp.
16:46The numbers in junior leagues aren't great.
16:49Dale was talking to Warren Blissett at the start of the year
16:51and he said the league tag numbers have boomed in junior league.
16:55Very much.
16:56I think there's about four or five greys now.
16:58There's a strong number in all the greys
17:01but the league is still a bit static.
17:07It'll take time.
17:09There is that certain age cut-off that going up through the ages
17:15hasn't been available for them.
17:17Historically it's finished at 12s and it was mixed.
17:20We didn't have girls-only tackle sites, which we do now,
17:23which is amazing to see.
17:25There are a lot of girls that didn't continue in rugby league
17:31knowing that they would have to stop at 12 years old
17:35so picked something else that they could continue to open.
17:39We are seeing a lot of girls come back and get back involved
17:44but I think going from playing a non-contact sport into rugby league
17:49I think it's a lot.
17:52But I think over the years we will see a really big increase
17:56in them coming through from juniors to seniors
17:59and hopefully at one point in time through Mid North Coast Women's Tackle
18:03we have all ages.
18:05I think the under-17s girls' grand finals played a couple of weeks ago.
18:09I think a poor breakers' play was an amalgam
18:12between Foster and Noah Barr
18:14but the 13s are on tomorrow at Wingham
18:16and the 15s, I think Hawks play Port City in there too
18:21and they're pretty strong numbers in those 13s and 15s grades too.
18:25Because those grades in previous years have been there as well
18:29so the 13 girls' tackle is three years in
18:33and they've done the 13s and gone up to the 15s
18:38and had that few years to get back into it.
18:43So a lot of girls aren't happy to play under-12s mixed
18:49or under-11s even and are wanting to go into that under-13
18:54so it's just a matter of time before we see the girls' tackle
18:58in all ages.
19:00So the grand finals, Mid North Coast Women's Grand Finals
19:03will they be on group three the grand final day
19:05or will they be in an acing to lead grand final or none of the above?
19:08We actually aren't 100% sure at the moment
19:12as to when it is going to be held.
19:16As I said, it's really hard to work out
19:19where you're going to play when you've got multiple competitions.
19:23I think it'll come down to who's in the grand final
19:27and what dates we have available.
19:31There's always opportunity for us to have our own grand final day
19:35but I know that if Lauriton are there
19:39they'll want to be having their grand final with their men's association.
19:44It might not be their club but their association
19:47and if it was Mustangs or War Hope
19:51I would predict like it to be in affiliation with their home club.
19:57It'll be a long group three grand final day.
20:00They've got five grades. It'll be an early start.
20:03I think you've seen my cringe there.
20:05It is a long day when you have five grades on
20:08and it's quite tough to run and for clubs
20:13but we seem to be managing any more auditions
20:17and we'll absolutely end up under the lights.
20:23As a director, you've got a young family.
20:26Most of the other directors on the board are old.
20:29Kids have grown up. There's only you and Jamie Moorhead.
20:32How do you go about mixing family commitments?
20:35It's a long day when you go to footy.
20:38You're there before the start of the first game.
20:40You're there at the end of the first grade.
20:43How do you juggle those commitments with your young family?
20:47I have a bit of a unique situation.
20:49I have an ex-husband who has 50-50 custody
20:54so I do only have my children every second week
20:58and my fiancé is my saving grace.
21:02He isn't involved in football.
21:05He doesn't mind watching the NRL
21:08but he's not really into it like I am
21:12so whilst I'm sitting at a table doing five grades
21:16they're off at Crescent Head surfing and swimming and fishing
21:20and the kids are very lucky.
21:22The day that I have off, he's off golfing
21:25and we're just rotating those days.
21:28So you don't see much one another?
21:31During the week, we have the afternoons.
21:34As far as long as it's a perfect marriage.
21:37We love it.
21:39We make time.
21:42Otherwise, you do your thing and I'll do mine.
21:45It's obviously working so you're keen to start next year?
21:48Yeah, absolutely.
21:50I'm excited to see where both Group 3
21:53and the Mid North Coast Women's Tackle go
21:55and how far we can come
21:58and see if we can get all of the Group 3 sides
22:01with a women's tackle team.
22:03It might take a little while yet
22:05but it seems to be a little bit slow around the Menning area.
22:08Maybe the Tahrir hasn't seen a lot of growth at this stage?
22:12Not at the moment but as I said, the ages are coming through
22:16and they've all got junior bases
22:19whether they have junior girls teams at the moment
22:22but I think given time, it may pick up
22:26but we're only second year in
22:28and I don't expect it going anywhere anytime soon.
22:32Marty, who's got them in the first grade comp?
22:35I have my money on Sharks.
22:38I think they had definitely some unfinished business last year.
22:42They want to settle it this year.
22:44That's been their goal since the start
22:46since I spoke to them in the pre-season.
22:49Matt said the boys were already talking right after that grand final.
22:52When can we go again?
22:54So I have my money on Sharks.
22:56I also think that Maclay are very...
23:00They can put on the attack and they can surprise a few people
23:04so I wouldn't be surprised if they go deep into the finals
23:07if not the grand final.
23:08So you've ridden off the Pirates already, eh?
23:10Well, I'm just saying that...
23:11You talked about them resting a few players.
23:13That's this weekend.
23:15Yeah, well, I'll be...
23:17No, Pirates are very, very strong as well
23:19and they obviously...
23:22Them and Sharks have been the standout all year
23:24so yeah, I'll abide.
23:26It can change on a whim.
23:28It can change.
23:29That's the thing.
23:30Finals, it becomes a whole different competition
23:32so, you know, it just comes down to who wants it more
23:35and who's ready on the day.
23:36Yeah, who's showing up.
23:38Well, I saw they played in successive weeks, of course,
23:40due to the wet weekends
23:42and Alba and Port played up here and then down there
23:45and they absolutely belted one another.
23:48So if they play in the major semifinal,
23:50the loser of that's going to have to back up possibly
23:53to play Maclay the week after
23:54and that's going to hold a...
23:56That's going to be a big thing in the final series, I think,
23:59that major semifinal.
24:00They'll both want to win that one
24:02because the side that doesn't win it
24:04is going to, I think, face a real battle the next week.
24:07As I say, I don't think...
24:09I think Maclay, when Maclay played the Sharks too,
24:12that was a pretty fierce game too, I understand.
24:14Yeah.
24:15I think Maclay got belted by Alba the next week
24:18and the Sharks struggled to beat William the following week.
24:21Obviously, they still had the ill effects
24:24from that previous game.
24:26So, yeah, I think it's going to be a pretty crucial match, that major semifinal.
24:30It'll be Port Macquarie at the 14th or thereabouts.
24:33They'll be very physical games, that's for sure.
24:36Yeah.
24:37It'll be good to watch.
24:38It will be, it will be.
24:39Probably not to be out there when you're getting smashed by...
24:42No, I sit at the bench and cringe when I see some of the duckles.
24:45Sorry, did you need some ice?
24:47Yeah, trainer.
24:49Well, when, as you say, the business end of the season now,
24:53I've only got four on the benches to go, Marty,
24:57so you'll be involved in a couple of them, of course.
24:59Yeah.
25:00Looking forward to the end of the season.
25:02It'll be my last cover in the game around here.
25:04But we've done a number of firsts this year.
25:06We've come to Port Macquarie for the first time.
25:08We've spoken to all representatives from all eight clubs for the first time,
25:11which is largely due to Marty's assistance.
25:13And this is the first time in the three or four years we're doing this
25:17that I've been outnumbered by women on the panel for the day, so...
25:21We're moving up in the water, Marty.
25:23Yeah, I know. It's coming together.
25:25Making the spice girls.
25:27Well, I don't know what will happen next year,
25:30but we might have to get another female involved for you, Marty,
25:34so you can continue the tradition.
25:36Well, Marty will be running the show next year,
25:38so why not? Why not? Why not? Why not? Why not?
25:42Anyway, one more week to go for the season proper,
25:45as I say, in the semi-finals next week,
25:47so coming towards what I'm thinking is going to be a great final series.
25:50I'm really looking forward to it.
25:51And Ellie, thanks again for coming in.
25:53Always good to talk to you.
25:54Thank you. Thank you for having me. I appreciate it.
25:56And Marty, for everything you've done, as usual, great job.
25:58Thank you. Yes, thank you.
25:59And we'll see you next week back at the Tenya Bridge studio in Taree
26:04for On The Bench, and of course,
26:05On The Bench is sponsored by Classic Design Jewellers of Taree.