The National Rugby League's naming rights partner Telstra will give award grants to junior clubs following the NRL Telstra Premiership Grand Final which was taken out by the Penrith Panthers.
In 2022, that commitment will also extend to the NRL Telstra Women’s Premiership Grand Final winners and runners up as the Knights triumphed over the Eels.
Overall, Telstra will award over $200,000 to junior rugby league clubs around Australia — $5,000 to the junior club of each player in the Grand Final winning teams in Penrith and Newcastle, and an additional grant of $20,000 awarded to the junior club associated with the runner-up Eels for both competitions.
The Telstra Junior Club Grants were awarded during the special post-match presentations on Sunday night at Accor Stadium.
Captain's Junior League Stories - video one
Genelle Sharples, Telstra’s Principal of Media, Sponsorship, Awards & Experiential said “Telstra is a passionate supporter of Rugby League from the grassroots to the very top of the men's and women's game and has been for over 21 years. We believe that sport has the power to bring Australians together, which is why we are proud to extend our Telstra Junior Club Grants this year and encourage more boys and girls to participate in the sport that we all love.”
Junior clubs in the Penrith district including St Mary’s Saints, Windsor Wolves, Minchinbury Jets and St Clair Comets aligned with a number of Panthers players, while clubs throughout the Parramatta and Hills District including Carlingford Cougars, Cabramatta Two Blues, Wentworthville Magpies, Hills District Bulls, and Rouse Hill Rhinos all featured for the Eels.
Parramatta's NRLW side included a wide array of clubs from the Corrimal Cougars to the Rockingham Coastal Sharks in Western Australia and Werribee Bears in Victoria, while the Knights raised funds for clubs that include the Scone Thoroughbreds, Foster-Tuncurry Hawks and Kurri Kurri Bulldogs.
Captain's Junior League Stories - video two
NRL
Penrith Panthers
| PLAYER | JUNIOR CLUB |
| Dylan Edwards (Panthers) | Bellingen Dorrigo Magpies |
| Stephen Crichton (Panthers) | St Clair Comets |
| Izack Tago (Panthers) | St Mary's Saints |
| Brian To’o (Panthers) | St Mary's Saints |
| Charlie Staines (Panthers) | Forbes Magpies |
| Jarome Luai (Panthers) | St Mary's Saints |
| Nathan Cleary (Panthers) | Brothers Penrith |
| Moses Leota (Panthers) | St Mary's Saints |
| Api Koroisau (Panthers) | Berala Bears |
| James Fisher-Harris (Panthers) | Windsor Wolves |
| Viliame Kikau (Panthers) | Western Vikings |
| Isaah Yeo (Panthers) | St John's Dubbo |
| Mitch Kenny (Panthers) | Windsor Wolves |
| Scott Sorensen (Panthers) | Cronulla-Caringbah Sharks |
| Spencer Leniu (Panthers) | Minchinbury Jets |
| Liam Martin (Panthers) | Temora Dragons |
| Jaeman Salmon (Panthers) | De La Salle Caringbah |
| Club: Penrith Panthers | Panthers Juniors |
Parramatta Eels
| CLUB | JUNIOR CLUB |
| Club: Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Junior Rugby League |
NRLW
Newcastle Knights
| PLAYER | JUNIOR CLUB |
| Bobbi Law (Knights) | Nelson Bay Marlins |
| Caitlan Johnston (Knights) | Windale Eagles |
| Emma Manzelmann (Knights) | Walkerston Wanderers |
| Emmanita Paki (Knights) | Yeppoon Seagulls |
| Jesse Southwell (Knights) | Kotara Bears |
| Kayla Romaniuk (Knights) | Kurri Kurri Bulldogs |
| Kiana Takairangi (Knights) | Cronulla Caringbah Sharks |
| Kirra Dibb (Knights) | Kincumber Colts |
| Makenzie Weale (Knights) | West Michelton Panthers |
| Millie Boyle (Knights) | Cobargo Eels |
| Olivia Higgins (Knights) | Raymond Terrace Roosters |
| Romy Teitzel (Knights) | Tully Tigers |
| Shanice Parker (Knights) | Willagee Bears |
| Simone Karpani (Knights) | South Adelaide Bulldogs |
| Tamika Upton (Knights) | Blackwater Crushers |
| Tayla Predebon (Knights) | Gloucester Magpies |
| Yasmin Clydsdale (Knights) | Scone Thoroughbreds |
| Club: Newcastle Knights | Hunter Junior Rugby League |
Parramatta Eels
| PLAYER | JUNIOR CLUB |
| Club: Parramatta Eels | Parramatta Junior Rugby League |
