Hills Hornets rise from no juniors to back-to-back state champions after weekend success in Wagga

The Hills Hornets have grown from having no juniors through to claiming back-to-back gongs in one of the state’s most prestigious titles. Here’s how they rose to the summit of junior touch footy.

THE Hills Hornets junior program was non existent a little over a decade ago.

Now it is the envy of associations around the state after claiming back-to-back NSW Touch Junior State Cup Southern Conference club championships.

On a hot weekend in Wagga, Hills came away with three titles, all in the girls divisions.

Their U16s and U14s both proved too strong for their opponents, with the U10s successful in their first representative campaign.

“Our female program is going really well,” former Australian representative and club president Brad Mitchell said.

The Hills Hornets U10s girls won the title at the NSW Touch Junior State Cup Southern Conference in Wagga. Picture: Kathryn Johnston Photography

“We have a very young cohort, even in the seniors. We had a lot of our U16s playing in the Premier League. There were six playing opens.

“Playing in high pressure environments against the elite of the sport in NSW, to come back down it would be easy to cruise. But they brought leadership back with them and provided that for the rest of the girls.

“The U14s girls performed strongly and we knew they would continue on their form, and the U10s took their first steps in rep footy, and to go through and win it shows the future is really bright.”

Mitchell said the rise of the club from having no junior teams to one of the most prominent clubs for the young guns in the state is part of their long-term vision.

“We’ve been building as a club for a number of years and working on the development of players and coaches,” he said.

The Hills Hornets U14s girls celebrate. Picture: Kathryn Johnston Photography

“We knew this year we could become the hunted instead of the hunters. The standards we set are high, and to come away and win two in two years is a great achievement.

“We took over the Hills Hornets in 2008 where the club had six teams and no junior teams. You need juniors to create that longevity and sustainability.

“A lot of work has been done within the Hornets to build up teams and the development of coaches. The first juniors came about in 2011, and in just over 11 years to go from hardly any teams to the best in southern NSW is a rapid rise.”

Stay tuned to NewsLocal for our preview of the players to watch from the upcoming NSW Touch Junior State Cup Northern Conference.

NSW JSC SOUTHERN RESULTS

BOYS

U10 - Wollongong 9 def Penrith 7

U12 - Taren Point 11 def Orange 6

U14 - Wagga Wagga 11 def Balmain 6

U16 - Taren Point 5 def Wests 2

U18 - Parramatta 15 def Hills 6

GIRLS

U10 - Hills Hornets 9 def Taren Point 0

U12 - Taren Point 5 def Wagga Wagga 2

U14 - Hills 5 def Balmain 2

U16 - Hills 17 def Orange 6

U18 - Canberra Brindie 7 defeated Easts 6

The Hills Hornets U16s girls celebrate. Picture: Kathryn Johnston Photography