General Manager’s Message President’s Message We often hear the statement sport makes great character. I prefer to believe that sport reveals a person’s character. Regardless of your role in a team, you all have an ability and an opportunity to be a leader over the State Cup weekend. Good leadership is about finding the right balance on many fronts. Saying enough without talking too much, leading by example but not to the exclusion of the members of your team, and not just doing what is popular, doing what is right. Sometimes getting it right is easier said than done. You will have plenty of ‘advisors’ looking to add to or interrupt efficient information flow, colouring views or only delivering the part of the message that suits. That said, good leaders understand it is important to canvas a broad range of ideas and viewpoints, but when the time is right, make a decision with all available information. Leadership is easy when everything is going well. It is when the group is under the pump that great leaders with great character come to the fore. There will be plenty of times this weekend when you and your team will be under pressure, whether that be scoreboard pressure, mistakes by the team or referee decisions you and your team may not agree with. When you find yourselves in these tense moments, regardless of your role in the group, choose to be a great leader. Leadership is not a position, it’s the acceptance of the right attitude. This weekend, encourage your team to respect the opposition, respect the referees and respect the game. We wish you all the very best and thank you for your participation in 2017 State Cup, the 29th consecutive year at Port Macquarie. We are all looking forward to what promises to be another exciting weekend where we work out who is the state’s best. We also welcome and wish well our international guests. The Men’s and Women’s teams from Japan are returning as well as the Men’s Open national team from England, attending for the first time. To all, play with passion and respect, play hard but fair and most importantly enjoy your weekend and have fun. Good luck all, whether you are a player, coach or referee. Dean Russell Welcome to all the affiliates, players, coaches and referees to the 2017 State Cup. On behalf of the Board of the NSW Touch Association I would like to wish you all the very best for this year’s event. It is our 29th consecutive year here at Port Macquarie, the home of the inaugural event in 1977. We have enjoyed each and every year we have been here, and we don’t believe this year will be any different. A relationship of this length is testament to the ongoing and successful collaboration with Hastings Council, Port Panthers and Port Macquarie Touch Association. We thank you for your continued support of the State Cup and the contribution you make to ensure its success. 251 teams have entered this year from across the State. We thank the players, administrators and team managements for making it possible for the 2017 State Cup to be the premier event not just on the NSWTA calendar, but among all domestic representative events worldwide. This year we welcome England’s Men’s Open team and the Men’s and Women’s teams from Japan, back for another year. It is great to continue the tradition of international teams venturing to the State Cup. Over 300 referees have been nominated to officiate and with the guidance of the Referees Panel, I am sure they too will enjoy the experience that only State Cup provides. We would ask all participants to remember to adhere to the Mutual Respect policy and respect the referee’s decision. NSWTA Selectors will be in attendance, making sure the best possible players are selected to represent Team NSW at the 2018 State of Origin. To the staff of NSWTA who have spent many extra hours making sure they deliver a Tournament we can all be proud of, we appreciate your dedication and commitment. Being State Champions is one of the highest honours a team can achieve. The State Cup provides the opportunity for players of all ages to reach this goal. Enjoy the weekend, I am sure there will be very competitive games played followed by social interaction and catching up with old friends. Aileen May 2 | Keeping In Touch 2016 IMG002_NSWTouch_Dec17_v3_FILM_R.indd 2 28/11/17 4:21 pm