Wes Middleton takes reins at Narromine Jets

Pre-season training was underway last Tuesday night, with Middleton hoping to lead the team both on and off the field.

"We are going to be professional this year in everything we do on and off the field,” he said.

“I want to not only lead the club on the field, but off the field as well in the community.”

Originally from Bourke, Middleton grew up in Dubbo and Narromine, with strong connections to the Jets having played under 12s with the Narromine Junior Rugby League Club.

Middleton finished his HSC at Westfields Sports High School in Sydney, where he honed his skills in rugby league.

He went on to play premier league with the Balmain Tigers in 2009 and 2010, playing for the Ron Massey Cup, formerly known as the Jim Beam Cup.

Middleton then spent three years with the Redcliff Dolphins – feeder club to the Brisbane Broncos.

After 10 years Middleton has returned to Narromine with his family, hoping to bring back everything he has learned while he was away. 

He said he hopes to give back to the local youth and aims to help Narromine grow through the football club.

"I believe we can create that unity and chemistry that creates a great community," he said.

Middleton said he was "saddened there hasn't been an under 15s and 16s out here for some time" and hoped to start a rugby league program at the school.

"There's definitely so much room for improvement and, you know, I've come into the community with nothing but a growth mindset on the place,” he said.

“I really think through sport we can really turn things around and get some things happening here, just to get the spark and energy back in the place."

While training has begun Middleton believes dedication and hard work will be key to securing success in 2018.

"We are going to be a successful club regardless, this year we have a standard, we will be taking no prisoners into the season, you've got to come here and put in the hard work and you will be rewarded,” he said.

"So that's the standard we're going to have here, if you want to put on the red and white jersey this year.

"I'm sure we will have some tired bodies after tonight.”

The reserve grade will again see Budd Cape take the reins as captain-coach, with the under 18s being guided by Paul Hausia.

The women’s league tag will be taking the field under the coaching of Duane Donnelly.

Jets President Archie Harding said he was excited about the 2018 season and the ideas the new coaches were bringing forward.