Brian Gray is inspiring a new generation of Green Devils
A name synonymous within rugby league coaching circles is Crookwell’s Brian Gray.
Gray was a Green Devil’s junior and played first grade for Crookwell between 1977 and 78 before he moved to Cootamundra in 1979.
His foray into coaching as a player/coach was with Adelong in 1984 before he moved to Junee in 1986, where he coached a rising star in Laurie Daley and oversaw the team to a Group 9 premiership before moving back to coach Cootamundra in 1988, where he raised another a trophy in the same year.
The late Ray ‘Dossie’ Carr, a well-respected administrator, cited Gray as ‘one of the best to have coached in Group 9,’ so it’s no surprise Eastern Suburbs came calling for his talents.
The Crookwell product spent the next 25 years coaching the club's junior teams, mixing his time between Jersey Flegg, under 20s, SG Ball, and Harold Matthews and, more recently, working as the junior program manager for the Sydney Roosters.
In 2018, Gray moved back to Crookwell, and by 2020, he was coaching his beloved Green Devils again.
He led them to a George Tooke Shield title in 2022 before his outfit finished runners-up in 2023.
Ready to hang the clipboard up, Gray was bound for coaching retirement after 55 years in the sport, but the 66-year-old answered a call to help a Crookwell junior side this season.
With the Green Devils experiencing a Rugby League renaissance, almost doubling their junior numbers from 87 to 160 between 2023 and 2024, Gray felt obliged to coach their under-15s.
Made up of many under-14 players and kids returning to or new to Rugby League, it’s been a challenge for Gray, but one he has enjoyed.
“This is my 56th consecutive year being involved in Rugby league,” Gray said.
“I was pulling up stumps after 55, but I’ve jumped on to help the junior league, and that’s where my experience in player development and pathways has come in.
“I did a high school visit, and we left with 12 players keen in the under-14/15s, and as usual, there was no coach, so I let it meander along for a little while, but they still didn’t have a coach, and I thought I would put my hand up.
“It’s been challenging, moving back from dealing with men to dealing with boys, and this is a different generation of kids and a different world.
“Still, nothing has changed for me; it’s about enjoyment, having fun, and teaching them the game along the way.
“They have responded well and improved out of sight since the competition started, and we’ve got 18 players now.”
Playing in the Canberra Region Rugby League under-15s division two competition, Crookwell is playing the likes of Gungahlin, Goulburn, Tuggeranong, Queanbeyan, and Belconnen.
The boys have shown up in big games, and with four wins next to their name, they sit in fourth position and should play finals.
Gray believes his side will keep improving and can feature when push comes to shove.
“It’s been rewarding, especially being my junior club, and their confidence is growing with each game,” Gray said.
“That’s the challenge of coaching; trying to improve them and build their confidence and skill base, but they have been stepping up and pushing red-hot sides, and I can’t wait to see what they can do come finals.”
While the Green Devils’ under-15s are flying the club’s colours in 2024, Crookwell has had a massive season across all grades.
Gray said a huge increase in numbers is setting up the club’s future, meaning more players than ever will eventually filter through to the Green Devils and She Devils.
“It’s been a big year, and with the senior club tipping in, and after a sponsor made up the balance, it means we were able to offer free rego (registrations), which has been a good promotion, and it’s exceeded all my expectations,” Gray said.
“We know that we are an amateur club in the George Tooke Shield, and to survive, we need pathways for juniors to come through.
“Last year, we had no teams from under 12s to seniors, but that inspired us to invest a bit of time and money into the juniors, and that’s where it started.
“This year, we have under-15s, boys' teams from under 6s to 13s, two under-6s and two under-8s, and many little ones, which means a good foundation.
“It can be tricky getting coaches, but the numbers are an excellent sign for the future, and we’ll keep on building on that and work on getting more coaches and volunteers.
“We’ll put strategies in place to make that happen and keep working on things.”
While Gray has one eye on the future, his other eye will be on next Sunday’s big match between his under-15s and the third-placed Tuggeranong Bushrangers in Round 10 of the competition.
It’s an early look at finals, and the Green Devils can move one step closer to a second chance come finals with a win over the Bushrangers at Kambah Oval.
