THEY get jerseys, shirts, socks and registration paid for them so these two junior Rugby League players in Sydney's south just have to keep their eye on the football.
Rugby league is charging its elite juniors no registration fees in stark contrast to soccer where families pay up to $2400 a season for their children to play at higher levels.
Competition between the major winter codes to increase their junior numbers is set to intensify in the New Year amid revelations of huge disparities in fee structures between league and soccer.
While families with several talented children can pay more than $7000 to play elite level soccer, thousands of rugby league juniors are not charged for registration and many also receive their playing kit for free.
HIGH REGISTRATION FEES KILLING RDEAMS OF YOUNG SOCCER STARS
Teenagers who make it into higher competitions in league are often paid to play _ $2000 or $3000 for many and the most gifted players can receive more than $10,000 in assistance.
Rugby league sources said yesterday the support came through scholarships and financial assistance from local communities, businesses and licensed clubs who all kicked in along with the sport itself.
Soccer, now with 200,000 registered players across NSW, has benefited from a perception among many parents that it is a safer and less violent sport, but it is battling a backlash over the high fees families with elite juniors are charged.
Rugby league, which has 173,000 kids playing in NSW and Queensland and numbers growing at 4 to 5 per cent a year, is aware its faces major competition from the other codes especially soccer and Australian Rules.
League administrators are moving to counter perceptions that their sport is too physical for younger children, introducing modified rules and skills-based programs for kids aged as young as four.
Rugby league also is commissioning new research into the nature and extent of injuries suffered by players in various codes which they expect will show that league does not fare badly in comparison.
The NRL's general manager of league integration and game development Andrew Hill said yesterday: "Rugby league has been very lucky for many years to have had great support from communities, businesses and licensed clubs.
"This has enabled our junior clubs to keep registration fees at a low cost for families.
"Weekend league representative competitions have no registration costs associated with our teams and all weekend registered junior players get free entry to NRL games through the schoolboy pass scheme."
Mr Hill said modified rules for juniors made league a very safe sport and the commitment to families included qualified coaches, referees and first aid officers from age six grade upwards.
While about 4 per cent of the state's 200,000 soccer players make the elite level, around 1000 league players are selected for the top under 16 and under 18 competitions. League bosses said the "vast majority" of their young players received financial assistance.
Football NSW said it had an "ongoing commitment to ensuring football remains an affordable sport".
"Various clubs offer special discounts for players and families experiencing hardship," a spokesman said.
"This is a matter for the respective clubs and their resources to assist and support particular players in need."
Player fees in soccer go towards funding accident support and insurance to cover referees, coaches, volunteers and clubs.
Andrew Nikas is the Secretary of the Maroubra Rugby League Football Club and has two boys, Matthew and Mark, playing within its ranks in the under 10s and under 7s.
He said some of the kids at the club wouldn't be able to play if they weren't kitted out for free by generous grants from South Sydney Juniors.
"South Sydney Juniors provide the kids with a jersey, shorts, socks and registration is free," Mr Nikas said. "Maroubra RLFC doesn't have to buy any gear for the kids.
"They also provide our club with a grant every year as well as the other clubs in the district," he said. "That helps the club pay for trophies, kids on development camps and any other function during the year like a presentation night."
