Illawarra Cutters enter the NSW Cup

Illawarra Coal Rugby League has today announced the name of its new VB NSW Cup team at gala launch today in Wollongong.

The side, which will be known as the Illawarra Cutters, has already been able to secure a major sponsor in Illawarra Coal as well as a sleave sponsor in Illawarra Credit Union and a shorts sponsor, LX Electrical.
Illawarra Coal VB NSW Cup Chairman, Sean O’Connor, said he hoped the people of the Illawarra would embrace the new side and its moniker.

“The name Cutters refers to coal-cutters or coal-hewers, men who perform well under extreme conditions, a perfect analogy for the modern Rugby League player,” O’Connor said.

When unveiling the new team logo, Illawarra Coal President, Colin Bloomfield, was particularly pleased the new name and logo embodied the company’s values of pride, passion and performance.

“Illawarra Coal is delighted to offer our support to the Illawarra Cutters VB NSW Cup team, which helps form the pathway for local talented Rugby League players to move into the National Rugby League competition,” Bloomfield said.

“The Illawarra Cutter team name is synonymous with our local coal cutting industry which has been an integral part of the local region for more than a century, just as Rugby League has been a favourite past time for locals for 100 years.”

Many of the Cutters players were involved in an NRL trial for the Dragons last Saturday against the Bulldogs and Coach Paul McGregor says they still have to put the finishing touches on their pre-season preparations but they would be ready for their Round One match against Cronulla at WIN Stadium.

“Last December we had an in-house trial and we were very scratchy in a number of areas, as a new group is,” McGregor said.

“We hadn’t played together, we hadn’t been together, and we hadn’t trained together at that period of time.

“We had two defensive lapses on the weekend (against the Bulldogs) and the boys were shown that if you do have defensive lapses in this arena you will get caught.

“They’re (Bulldogs) are a definite top four finish and for us to show that kind of showing against quality opposition, it is a good lead up into what we need to do.”

The VB NSW Cup will kick-off on Saturday, March 3, across NSW.