'Can't leave empty-handed': Leeton's hospitality shines after cricket revival

The answer was yes and within minutes, Gino had made two phone calls to cousins Mick Nardi and Dom Amato. 

"There was no hesitation, it was just, 'Gino, no problem'." 

Before 20 minutes had passed, both cousins had arrived at the Clinic with 6 boxes of oranges and mandarins between them for Katie Mack and fellow Cricket NSW player Ryan Hadley. For Gino, the expression of hospitality was second nature and one that reflects the broader nature of the area.  

"You can't have visitors come here and leave empty-handed; I don't want anything in return. I just want them to remember Leeton for what it is, a good country town with a cricket association trying to have a go." 

Mack and Hadley were in Leeton as part of the Country Blitz where they also visited Griffith, Narrandera and Matong. This month saw the 2026 Country Blitz running across the state with 24 players visiting 12 regions across NSW. Thousands of kids were engaged across 46 schools, and 444 participants took part in19 Come and Try Clinics.  

In between all the fun, with Sam Konstas smashing kids for six, Hannah Darlington signing deodorant cans, Caoimhe Bray lighting up an All-Girls School Smash, and the Thunder Bus taking a famous lap around Mount Panorama, the moment in Leeton captured the spirit of community cricket in regional NSW. 

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Gino Amato has been involved in cricket in Leeton since he picked up a bat at nine years old. Since then, he has served as a player, Secretary, Committee Member and now President. After cricket in Leeton had effectively disappeared, he decided it was time to help rebuild it. 

"Since cricket virtually died in Leeton, I came back by myself four seasons ago and started building it again," he said. 

Where once there were struggles to field a side, Leeton now has a playing group of 35 senior cricketers across two teams and is exploring the possibility of adding a third-grade side this season. The Association, now about to enter its fifth successful season, and with six committee members, is building strong foundations for the future of cricket in Leeton and celebrating wins along the way.   

The revival of cricket in the community is about much more than what happens on the field, 

"Cricket has been a very strong game for our town for a long time" 

Leeton is a community built around sport, where local clubs provide an important connection point for individuals and families. 

"If you're an out-of-towner and you get involved in sport, you form a lot of friendships very quickly, it's a great way for individuals and families to become part of the community." 

That sense of connection is also driving the Association's focus on junior cricket. 

Last season, the Leeton combined team with Barellan won the Milliken Shield (U13 Competition) after placing runners up the season before. Many of those players had never played organised cricket before the Association returned. 

‘That little team is getting stronger and stronger but there is nowhere for them to go as they age and we are now working to build a pathway in Leeton. A lot of them are talented, motivated kids who live and breathe cricket.’ 

Providing those pathways is one of the reasons Country Blitz has been so valuable for communities like Leeton. 

At this year's Country Blitz, more than 30 children attended the local Clinic, spending time with Mack and Hadley and experiencing first-hand the joy of cricket and the opportunities it can create, helping inspire the next generation to play and love the game. 

‘These little kids love having someone to look up to,’ Gino said. ‘It puts smiles on their faces and gives them that extra motivation to be like them one day. That connection is what is very, very important’ 

The outcome has seen a significant rise in interest for cricket in Leeton. 

‘The mums and dads I spoke to afterwards were telling me how keen their kids were to start playing cricket' 

Several years ago, you couldn't play cricket locally. This year, Gino and the Committee want to be able to say that there is an established junior to senior pathway in Leeton and are taking small steps to build the foundations for the future.  

"You've got 70 and 80-year-olds working on a pitch square week in and week out, those are the type of volunteers who wear their hearts on their sleeves and keep cricket going in this town." 

It is with this perspective that Gino continues to devote his time to cricket in Leeton.   

"I didn't want to bring cricket back for a short time, I'm here for the long term.