There was blue and gold everywhere you looked at Chittick Oval when the Parramatta Eels NRLW team trained in Kiama ahead of their season opener on 3 July.

The Eels, managed by Kiama local Kate Parkinson, are set to take on the Cronulla Sharks in the first game of the NRLW season. 

They chose Kiama’s pristine, coastal facilities as part of their training camp in preparation for the challenge ahead.

According to Group 7 operations manager Ashton Sims, the Eels are just the latest in a growing list of professional teams taking advantage of what the Kiama region has to offer.

“It’s fantastic to see how many different NRLW and NRL teams have trained here over the years,” said Sims.

“In my time, we’ve had the St George Illawarra Dragons, Canberra Raiders, Cronulla Sharks, North Queensland Cowboys, Parramatta Eels, and even the Australian Kangaroos back in 2021.

The Eels NRLW team will play Cronulla in the opening game of the season.

“Now we’ve also hosted NRLW teams like the Wests Tigers, the Dragons, and now the Eels.”

Sims said the attraction is simple: Kiama provides a break from city life and the perfect setting for focused, high-quality training.

“The facilities here are fantastic - between the gym at The Sebel, the Kiama Showground, and Chittick Oval right by the ocean, it’s the ideal environment for elite teams,” he said.

A former NRL veteran himself, with over 200 first-grade games, Sims knows the value of camps like this when it comes to building team chemistry.

“When you're away from home and family, your team becomes that family. It’s crucial to build those bonds off the field - that’s what translates to trust and connection on the field,” he said.

“You get to be fully focused on footy. And the proof’s there - Penrith Panthers trained here the past few years, and look at what they’ve achieved.”

The Eels NRLW team is still chasing its first premiership, and they'll be hoping the Panthers left a little of their winning magic behind in Kiama - and that they’ve picked it up just in time.