Maro Osa, a seasoned rugby league coach with the Samoan West Tigers, has embarked on a journey to further his coaching prowess as part of the ADF Pacific Sport Program being held from March 18-23 in Samoa.
The course includes level one and two accreditations in coaching and refereeing, plus sports trainer, first aid, and strength and conditioning. However, it is the leadership and management skills Mr Osa says are his biggest takeaway.
“These skills will really help me steer my team towards success,” he said.
“I’ve learned a lot from the course and I’m really grateful to the ADF for sharing their knowledge and skills.
“I have learned new techniques and styles and believe I will be able to make better decisions when managing teams moving forward.”
With a profound love for league instilled in him since childhood, the Senior Sergeant with Samoan Police is passionately committed to nurturing the sport’s future in his homeland.
“I love the game. I have been playing rugby league since I was a young kid and I still love it just as much,” he said.
“It’s an interesting and exciting time for NRL in Samoa, as the game is growing.
“As a coach, I’m trying to develop the young players and our team so they can get better and, hopefully, one day have a career in rugby league.
“We don’t always have the luxury of facilities, balls, cones for training, or even jerseys and shorts, so we are so grateful to the ADF for providing this stuff to us.”
Despite facing challenges like limited resources and facilities, Mr Osa remains undeterred, pouring his heart and soul into coaching. His dedication knows no bounds, describing his involvement with the West Tigers as being “all in”.
‘We don’t always have the luxury of facilities, balls, cones for training, or even jerseys and shorts, so we are so grateful to the ADF for providing this stuff to us.’
“I’m fully committed to our team; all my time and effort is around building up the West Tigers,” he said.
“This is my first-year coaching, so I really need training like these courses.
“That is why this week is so important. I get to learn from NRL players and staff, and take it back to my club and then use it to develop the team.”
Air Force Warrant Officer Geoff Britton, an NRL instructor aiding in the program’s delivery, commended the enthusiastic participation of Samoan attendees.
Drawing parallels between Samoan and Australian cultures, Warrant Officer Britton emphasised the shared values of teamwork and camaraderie inherent in rugby league.
“Being in Samoa has been great. The Samoans have been really engaging in both the theory and the practical sides of the program,” he said.
“They ask great questions, have a go at everything and are such lovely people.
“The culture, teamwork, enthusiasm, mateship and having a common goal is what I love about NRL, and it’s obvious it’s no different here in Samoa.
“We got a group together – we didn’t know one another – but we bonded in a really short amount of time.
“It’s bringing people together through a common goal which is exactly what ADF Sport does.”
Warrant Officer Britton said he hoped the training, newly awarded accreditations and gifting of essential equipment by the ADF would assist Samoa to grow the sport they love.
“I hope we have been able to help local clubs deliver safe and effective coaching and refereeing which, in turn, will bring more people into the sport,” he said.
One of the most memorable moments of the program for Warrant Officer Britton was the visit to Marist Primary School, where they were greeted by an overwhelming turnout of eager children.
The infectious energy and excitement displayed by the young enthusiasts served as a testament to rugby league’s enduring appeal in Samoa.
‘I hope we have been able to help local clubs deliver safe and effective coaching and refereeing which, in turn, will bring more people into the sport.’
“We went to the school and were expecting 25 kids – and there ended up being 72,” he said.
“We had a great time because the kids had a great time. It was awesome fun.”
The initiative is part of the Australian Government’s Pacific Step-up program, which aims to strengthen and foster relationships and build sport capacity within the Pacific.
As part of the delivery of the program, the ADF partnered with the National Rugby League, Federation International Basketball Association, International Federation of Touch Football and Sports Medicine Australia.
