Brewing Success: NRL & NRLW players take on barista training

NRL and NRLW players are adding another valuable skill to their toolkit through completing barista training courses.

Bridget Hoy, Simina Lokotui and Milahn Ieremia from the Bulldogs NRLW squad recently completed a barista course with Di Pacci Coffee, while Cronulla Sharks trio Jesse Ramien, Hohepa Puru and Riley Pollard took part in barista training with Jet Black Espresso.

The sessions gave players a hands-on introduction to the craft of coffee making, highlighting the precision, skill and technique that goes into every cup of coffee.

For Ramien, the experience was an eye-opener.

"I didn't realise how much goes into it," he said after the course.

While opening a café is something he could see himself doing one day, Ramien said he's happy to bank the experience for now, viewing it as another skill in his arsenal for the future.

The courses reflect the growing emphasis across rugby league on preparing players for life beyond the game, encouraging them to explore interests, develop practical skills and build confidence in different environments.

Whether those skills lead to future careers, side ventures or simply a newfound appreciation for the morning coffee run, the experience offered players another opportunity to invest in themselves away from the field.