“The whole is greater than the sum of its parts.”
These are the words that resonate when learning about the All Saints Toongabbie Tigers. Formed by a merger of the Toongabbie Tigers and the All Saints Rebels after the 2005 season, it is a club rejuvenated by a freshened identity, innovative programs, and a supportive community.
This week, The Cumberland Throw spoke with Tigers’ secretary, Tim Moggridge, to find out the story behind a club which has become an innovator within the Parramatta DJRL.
Back in 2005, the Toongabbie Tigers were one of the oldest clubs in the district, with a history that dated back to 1928. In contrast the All Saints Rebels were relatively new, having formed in 1998.
At that point in time the Tigers were struggling to field teams. The Rebels were growing but had no geographical identity and an unsuitable match day venue.
Ultimately, a merger was the best way forward for both clubs to continue to promote rugby league in the community.
Today, the All Saints Toongabbie Tigers club has experienced remarkable growth to field over 430 players, including 100 girls, across 27 teams. The 150 volunteers who assist the teams include many genuine stalwarts giving the club its family environment.
When we asked Tim about that growth, he firstly attributed it to the terrific work done by the club’s committees since 2006. However, a significant factor has also been the establishment of a recognisable identity.
“We didn’t really have a brand, we didn’t really have a presence. We put a strategy around the clothing, we put our orange and blue out there. We made those decisions around promoting the club.”
Of course, the foundation of any growth must be the retention of existing players and families.
The Tigers enjoy longevity with their coaches, and have only needed to replace one or two each season over the last few years. The upshot of this is that the core group of kids and families stay. The coaches thereby help to drive the club culture and the community identity.
Unquestionably, the success of the Tigers’ girls program has been critical. It’s been described to The Cumberland Throw as possibly the best girls rugby league program in the country.
When we put this to Tim, he was quite humble in his response, although he conceded, “we are now a genuine division one female club.”
The girls program started from humble beginnings, with the buy in of 5-6 key families in the club. It kicked off with an under 14 girls team entering in the Penrith competition.
Losalio Sita Payne & Ruby-Jean Kennard
The club now provides the nucleus of the Eels Tarsha Gale team. Two Tigers representatives in that team, Ruby-Jean Kennard and Losalio Sita Payne, were this year selected in the NSW City team which competed in the Australian Women’s Championships.
The current Tigers under 14 girls team is particularly strong, going undefeated until the lockdown, and having many matches end by the mercy rule. They will be an exciting group of girls to watch going forward.
When it comes to former Tigers players that NRL fans will be familiar with, the most celebrated has been David Klemmer. However, Eels supporters might be surprised to learn that Mitch Moses played with All Saints until his teens. Tim reports the Eels half remains a great supporter of the club, making appearances whenever requested. Jorge Taufua and Jacob Loko are other recent NRL players to have worn the club jersey.
Perhaps the most vital contribution that the Tigers are making is in the mental health space.
In 2016, the club lost a much loved member of their community to suicide. David Murphy’s passing shocked everyone. In response, Club President Daryn Wilson has driven the Tigers involvement with the NRL State of Mind Program. The message – it’s not weak to look for help, we all go through issues and there are places and people who you can talk to for that help.
This is where the Tigers have become a pioneer, as Tim explains,
“We were the first club in the Parramatta District. We really bought into it. We started running it as an annual event. We got sponsors, we got a green jersey in the state of mind colours. It was a game changer.”
Earlier this year the club featured in the Ready For An Offload TV campaign. It was about being there and having that tough conversation, reaching out to your teammates, finding that safe space and having that confidence to be able to offload.
The club also put one hundred 13 to 18 year olds through the Get In The Game workshop with Alan Tongue. A massive State of Mind Round was planned for late June. Unfortunately COVID put an end to that, but with the event being annual feature the club will continue to be innovative leader in mental health within the district.
Volunteers are the lifeblood of all of the junior clubs in the Parramatta district, but there are large costs to be met. Fortunately there are benefactors and sponsors who provide much appreciated financial support, as Tim explains.
“Parramatta Leagues Club is a powerhouse behind junior rugby league in the district and the Parramatta junior rugby league have brought on a whole group sponsor in Subaru.”
The club is also supported by an enviable list of sponsors such as McGrath Estate Agents at Blacktown, The Pendle Inn, The Grillhouse at Pendle, Ecotone, Kingflex Flexible Construction Solution, Ellis Post Tension, The Pizza and Pasta Kitchen, Cubitic, Toongabbie Bottlemart, Honda Power Equipment, Pegasus Print Group, Western Mowers and Chainsaws, Pump Station Fitness, Mikael Constructions, Bungaree Butchery, Spicers, Alex Fonti Lawn Care and Services, ASM Locksmiths and Alarms, Ashmore Motors, Crosbe, Crossfit 2147, IP Financial Advisers and Foran Industries.
For the final word on the All Saints Toongabbie Tigers, Tim Moggridge puts it best with this:
“Our primary focus is to engage kids in a team environment and keep them there. From that comes life skills, comes family, comes friendships, comes the ability to raise and influence mental health, to create an environment that they’re proud to be a part of, and to want to stay involved in sport. Kids in sport is great for everyone – for families, for mental health, for growth, for fitness. Our programs come out of that. You can’t do it without a community and I feel we have one.”
Anyone wishing to become involved with the Tigers as a player, sponsor or volunteer can make contact via email at admin@allsaintstoongabbie.com or through @allsaintstoongabbietigers on Facebook and Instagram.
You can listen to our full chat with Tim Moggridge in this week’s match preview episode of The Tip Sheet podcast.
Sixties
Our thanks to Tim. We’d arranged to speak just prior to the planned State of Mind event, and of course Covid messed that up. Like all clubs, planned events have been disappointingly lost. Nonetheless, these junior clubs are so important to the community and it’s vitally important that we support them as they look to bounce back next year.
Cheers boys, was an enjoyable chat!
Go the Eels!
You’re welcome mate.
Ditto!!!!