Eighty teens aged between 14 and 16 will play in the tournament consisting of soccer, rugby league and netball for the Worimi nation – double last year’s number.

But not only has Worimi seen a boost to its player contingent this year, it has also enjoyed a significant increase in numbers of people wanting to help out the teams.

“We’ve had a lot of community support as far as people wanting to come on as coaches and trainers,” Tracy Jones, the Worimi nation’s teams manager, said.

Hunter River High School deputy principals Adam Trace and Kylee Beasley will help coach. Teachers and Aboriginal Education Officers from the school will help the teams as well. 

Port Stephens police Inspector Tony Townsend will coach to soccer sides and Tracey Marks from Hanson Quarry in Seaham will coach netball.

“I think a lot more people have come on board this year after seeing to positive impact it [event] had last year,” Jones, also from Hunter River High, said.

“As well as encouraging reconciliation, it also encourages school attendance. The kids have to have an 80 per cent attendance rate to be able to play.”

This will be the second year that Worimi host the PCYC tournament, which uses sport as a vehicle for reconciliation between indigenous and non-indigenous members of the community. Worimi has also secured hosting rights for 2017.

This year Worimi will field one boy and one girl under 14 side in the five-a-side soccer, which will be held at Speers Point in Lake Macquarie on July 11 and 12.

One under 14 girls netball side will play in the first ever Nations of Origin netball competition, set to be held at the Raymond Terrace courts between July 12 and 13.

Rugby league sevens will again be contested at Lakeside Sporting Complex between July 13 and July 14. Worimi will field two boy and two girls under 16 sides in the rugby sevens.

Port Stephens PCYC club manager Matt Brealey said it was “exciting” to host the tournament again this year.

“It’s the biggest PCYC event in the state,” he said. “Over 1200 players and officials participate. It attracts 32 nations from all corners of the state.

“Its backing on from our state conference, which was held in Nelson Bay. It’s quite exciting to again showcase our community on a state-wide level. 

“It’s also quite exciting to secure it again this year because it’s such a successful event and the outcomes it achieves with reconciliation are fantastic.”

Port Stephens Council general manager Wayne Wallis said he was excited the area was hosting Nations of Origin again.

“This is a fantastic event that brings our aboriginal and non-aboriginal community together, fostering reconciliation and a better cultural understanding amongst young people,” he said.

“Sport is a fantastic tool to encourage students to focus on leadership, their education and ultimately life after school and the ongoing success of this event is testament this is a winning formula.”

It is anticipated that the event will inject more than $800,000 into the Port’s economy.