Knights roll into Orange to support Central West miners

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League fans in Orange and the Central West will be able to cheer on two great teams – the Newcastle Knights and local miners – at a pre-season NRL trial match against the Canberra Raiders on this Saturday night, 20th Feb at Wade Park.  

 

The Knights have partnered again with the NSW Minerals Council in 2016 to lend their support to our hard working miners.  The Knights will roll into to Orange mid-week to tour local mining operations and meet with young fans at local schools, before taking on Canberra in a 2016 NRL warm-up game.

 

There will also be an open training session at Wade Park on Friday at 11am, so fans can get along and watch the Knights squad get ready for the match.

 

To celebrate the contribution our local miners make to communities throughout the Central West and to NSW, the Knights will be donning their hi-vis mining jerseys for the game against the Raiders.  

 

NSW Minerals Council CEO Stephen Galilee said that trial match will be a fun and positive event for the Central West community, as well as a chance for miners, their families and the local community to join in support an industry that makes such an important contribution to the Central West of NSW. 

 

“There’s around 4000 people directly employed in mining in the Central West, so it’s great that the Knights will be playing in their hi-vis miner’s jersey in Orange, particularly given the strong history of mining and ongoing mining activity in the region.”

 

“The Knights and our miners are both integral to their local communities, and with 2016 being a federal election year, a big show of support is more important than ever,” Mr Galilee said. 

 

“This game is not only a warm up for the Knights team, it’s also a warm-up for the annual Voice for Mining Family Day that takes place every year during the NRL season at Hunter Stadium.” 

 

“A strong mining industry means a strong local economy and more jobs for local people and their families. So if we want a strong economy in the Central West, let’s show our support for the Newcastle Knights and our local miners at Wade Park,” he said.

 

The Newcastle Knights have a strong connection with the mining industry in NSW, with many past players and relatives of current players working in mining. 

 

“This partnership with NSW Mining is really important to us. The mining industry is important, not only in the Hunter region but also in other parts of rugby league heartland like the Central West. We think it’s a great fit,” Newcastle Knights CEO Matt Gidley said. 

 

Fans and mining supporters can purchase the special edition high-vis replica miners jersey and share the team colours at Wade Park. 

 

“Miners and supporters of mining can show their strong support for the industry and the Knights by wearing orange and high-vis workwear to the game to show everyone just how important mining is to the Central West,” Gidley added.

 

Notes

 

The special Newcastle Knights high-vis replica miners jersey is on sale now at the Knights Club Shop or at www.newcastleknights.com.au. 

 

Contact

Nat Openshaw