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NRL to establish Lake Macquarie base at Hunter Sports Centre
newy.com.au – Lake Macquarie will become a major home base for rugby league development in northern NSW under a new partnership between the National Rugby League and Hunter Sports Centre.
The NRL will establish a dedicated presence inside the centre’s newly redeveloped Sport and Community Building for local and state office staff, with the base to be used for seminars, training, coaching and officiating courses, workshops, community engagement programs and administration.
The base is expected to support the game’s rapid regional growth and strengthen pathways for players, coaches, officials and volunteers as rugby league participation continues to rise across the Hunter in junior pathways, female participation and school-based programs.
Hunter Sports Centre acting general manager Michelle Preston-Poole said the agreement, which comes on the one-year anniversary of the centre’s multimillion-dollar upgrade, reinforced the venue’s role as one of NSW’s leading multi-sport destinations. “We are incredibly proud to welcome the National Rugby League into the Hunter Sports Centre community,” she said.
NRL spokesperson John Wilson said the dedicated hub aligned with the organisation’s commitment to strengthen rugby league’s footprint across key regional communities. “The Hunter region is one of rugby league’s most important heartlands, with participation continuing to grow strongly across club rugby league and schools,” he said.
Lake Macquarie Mayor Adam Shultz said the partnership reflected momentum generated by the city’s $52 million investment in the redevelopment of the centre. “The growth we’re seeing is transforming Lake Macquarie into a true regional hub for elite and community sport,” he said.
Hunter Sports Centre also acknowledged Dantia, the Lake Macquarie Economic Development Company Limited, and chief executive Tim Browne for helping foster the partnership, which the centre said was expected to benefit regional participation, accessibility and development pathways.
