Senior assistant coach Jade Rawlings says the current pandemic has allowed players to step up like never before.

While there’s no substitute for in-person conversations, technology has ensured North’s players and coaches can easily support one another, and at the same time, step out of their comfort zone with honest and open conversations.

“One of Rhyce’s big-ticket items is how we pre-dispose our players to more leadership opportunities,” Rawlings explained in a North Media Zoom chat.

“Every club I’ve been to we talk about leadership groups and emerging leaders, but do we really put the time into giving them the skills and exposing them to opportunities to lead.

“… someone like Tarryn (Thomas), who is a second-year player, engaged in meaningful conversation with (Ben) Cunnington and (Todd) Goldstein, and to a lesser degree myself, just through life experience, it could be intimidating.

“But I’ve watched that young man really grow, and he’s consistent, and he’s offering some good stuff.”

At 27-years-old, Jared Polec is one of the club’s more experienced players; flamboyant and exciting on the field, it’s fair to say he’s a quieter type away from it.

But after a year settling in at North, he’s feeling right at home, and growing in confidence.

“We did ‘On The Couch’ with Jared Polec. Jared’s a quite private person and he’s really starting to emerge within the group throughout this pre-season,” Rawlings added.

“What he shared was absolute gold, and some of the feedback the players sent through which I forwarded on to Jared, it was great for how he made them feel, but also how he felt for the way he was received.”

Rawlings talked in-depth about how the club was continuing to engage with its players during a difficult period.

Watch the full interview below.