Tony Clifton's bloodline will run deep in the Group Three Junior Rugby League grand finals this weekend, with no less than seven members of his family involved in premiership-contending Forster Tuncurry Hawks teams.
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On Friday night, Tony's daughter Emma Connors will coach the undefeated Hawks under-15s league tag team, which features her daughter Jorja, against the Taree Panthers Purple.
On Saturday afternoon, Tony's grandson Ryley Connors will play in the similarly undefeated Hawks Green under-12s, which is trained by Tony's son-in-law Tyler Connors, against the Port Macquarie Sharks.
Tony himself will then coach the undefeated Hawks under-15s against the Port Macquarie Sharks on Sunday, alongside his son Matthew, who serves as the team's trainer, and daughter-in-law Kath, who serves as the team's manager.
Grandson Will Clifton will take the field as the team's hooker.
It's a privilege and an honour to me.
- Tony Clifton
While the games will take place at different locations on different days, Tony says the family will all come together to celebrate once the weekend is over.
"There'll be a celebration whichever way it goes," he said.
"It's quite a number."
A former premiership-winning player and coach who has been associated with both the Hawks and the now defunct Taree United football club, Tony says it's great to see his family so extensively involved in the sport he loves.
"It's a privilege and an honour to me," he said.
"I'm very lucky."
And while Tony says he'll be proud of his family and their respective teams no matter what happens this weekend, he admits a clean sweep would be pretty special.
"That'd be terrific if that happens," he said.
"If those other two sides get up the pressure will be really on me."
Not that he has any doubts in his under-15s outfit, which he has transformed from semi-finalists to odds-on favourites for the premiership in the two years he's been coaching them.
Lured back to the sport after a hiatus because of his grandchildren, Tony says he has been thoroughly impressed with the 21-man squad since he became their coach.
"Their improvement has been exceptional," he said.
"They're very respectful young men."
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Hawks' junior coaching coordinator, Rowdy Manning, says the team's improvement has come directly off the back of Tony's involvement.
"We chased him up to get back involved with the juniors because of his experience and you can see it paying off now," Rowdy said.
"I couldn't speak highly enough of him."
The Hawks under-15s league tag team will play Taree Panthers Purple at Taree's Jack Neal Oval on Friday at 6:30pm.
The Hawks Green under-12s will play the Port Macquarie Sharks at Port Regional Stadium on Saturday at 3:20pm.
The Hawks under-15s will play the Port Macquarie Sharks at Wingham Sporting Complex on Sunday at 11:30am.
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