The NRL Rookie


The NRL Rookie is an Australian National Rugby League reality television series that aired on 9Go!. The Rookies were coached by rugby league greats Brad "Freddy" Fittler, Mark Geyer and Adrian Lam. The winner of the show will be drafted to one of the 16 Australian National Rugby League club's rookie list. The series was won by Lou Goodwin, who chose to be drafted to Canberra Raiders over the Gold Coast Titans.

Format

Captain Challenge

The Captain Challenges involves the rookies competing against each other in physical challenge of speed, endurance & strength each week. The rookie that comes first in the challenge will become weekly captain, they also cannot be cut from the competition during that week.
EpCity/StateLocation

Game Day

All the rookies play as a football team to play a game of football each week. As they play the game, the 3 coaches will watch each rookie to assess the weakest from the strongest rookies and any improvements from previous weeks.

The Shed/The War Room

In The Shed, the rookies have a peer-to-peer session with psychologist Kate Baecher, as well as a group feedback session, this is where the rookies call out who they believe was weakest for the week & then vote for the bottom 3 rookies for The Cut.
In The War Room, the 3 coaches watch the session in The Shed on a television, this is where the give their final weekly assessment of each rookie.

The Cut

Every week, the rookies all stand on the field of Allianz Stadium as Freddy calls out the 3 weakest rookies of the week. The Captain Challenge winner has the option to swap a rookie for another or keep the 3 same rookies, one of the rookies will be chosen as the weakest of the 3 and be cut from the competition.

The Rookies

had previously represented England in rugby sevens while Lou Goodwin, Jesse Shearer and Jordan Martin had fathers who played first grade.
Following the filming of the show, Luke Frixou, who had previously represented Cyprus in rugby union, was signed on a trial contract by the Salford Red Devils.
NameAgeBornLivingHometeamStatus
Lou Goodwin24AustraliaNSWMount Pritchard Mounties RLFCThe NRL Rookie
Jordan Martin21AustraliaACTWoden Valley Rams RLFCRunner-up
Chris Hyde27AustraliaNSWMacquarie Scorpions RLCThird Place
Reece Joyce24New ZealandWaikatoBombay Rugby
Gary-John Hill27New ZealandWAWest Scarborough Rugby
Roydon Gillett24New ZealandWANorth Beach Sea Eagles RLFC
Peter Lee23AustraliaQLDSunnybank Rugby
Elias Power25AustraliaQLDEasts Tigers Rugby Union
Matt Johnstone27AustraliaNSWCronulla Sharks, NSW Police League
Luke Frixou21UKUKDerby RFC
David Andjelic21SerbiaNSWSt Patricks JRLFC
Karo Kauna Junior25Papua New GuineaPNGPort Moresby Vipers RLFC
Matthew Gorman23AustraliaQLDBilambil Jets RLFC
Daniel Caprice25UKNSWPicton Magpies RLFC
Jesse Shearer24AustraliaQLDMaroochydore Swans JRLFC

; Notes
; Notes
GuestEpisodeChallenge
Adam “Mad Dog” MacDougallPhysical Strength & Endurance -
Weights & Boxing session
Adam “Mad Dog” MacDougallCaptain Challenge
Darren LockyerEp 3Captain Challenge
Wally LewisEp 3Captain Challenge
Billy SlaterEp 4Game Day
Robbie KearnsEp 4Game Day
Ruben WikiEp 5Game Day
Anthony MinichielloEp 6Game Day
Danny GreenEp 7Boxing Session
Paul GallenEp 7Game Day
Jonathan ThurstonEp 8Game Day

Broadcast

Premiere Episodes

Encores

Each episode airs five times during the week on free to air television across the Nine Network and multichannel GO!

International

The series broadcasts internationally on Duke, Sky Sports, NBCTV & FijiTV.