Whether it’s a signed retro jersey, Scanlens footy card or vintage team poster, rugby league memorabilia has come in all forms over the years. But one new piece of memorabilia that’s getting everyone talking of late is lifelike figurines of your favourite NRL players.
Introducing 3D Mini League figurines – the latest craze that’s gripping the world of rugby league collectors.
100 per cent unique and Australian-made, these figurines are among the first 3D printed sports collectibles created. Utilising state-of-the-art photogrammetry technology, the figurine is presented in full colour gypsum and is hand finished to perfect every detail of the player.
Popular in the AFL since 2017, manufacturer The Mini League has recently teamed up with the NRL to produce player figurines from all 16 clubs.
The Mini League Executive Director, Tim Naylor, explained the process of creating each lifelike figurine.
“We take scanning equipment around to every single club and scan each player individually,” he told Extra Time.
“We make everything to order and all figurines are made to scale, so if people want to order multiple players they’ll notice the height difference between them all, to make it more realistic.”
Despite Penrith not doing so well on the field in 2019, it hasn’t affected sales of their Mini League figurines with Nathan Cleary, Josh Mansour and Reagan Campbell-Gillard up there with the biggest sellers.
“Nathan Cleary is our most popular Panthers player while Damien Cook and Cameron Smith are our top sellers overall,” Naylor said.
To see the range and to purchase your own 3D Mini League figurine, visit http://www.minileague.com.
The Weekender has five 3D figurines to give away. For your chance to win one, email [email protected] with 3D in the subject line and tell us which player you’d like. Entries close Friday, May 24. Authorised under NSW Permit No LTPM/19/04131.
Nathan Taylor
Nathan Taylor is the Weekender's Deputy Editor and Senior Sports Writer. He also compiles the weekly Chatter on the Box TV column. Nathan is an award-winning journalist, who has worked at the Weekender for a decade.