As Chris Walker did the interview for this story, the home of older brother Ben disappeared.
"Yeah, it's going under right now," the Parramatta recruit revealed. "Ben called me only a couple of minutes ago from Ipswich - said he was walking out as the water lapped his veranda.
"Apparently he's heading off to help mates sandbag their joints.
"My brother Shane is doing the same in Brisbane.
"So if we can just get approval for a more of us up there . . ."
In a stunning response to the devastating Queensland flood crisis, some 80 NRL stars - the
us as Walker puts it - are offering themselves up for emergency relief efforts across the stricken state.
Players from Parramatta, Penrith, Wests Tigers and Canterbury are all planning to converge on the disaster zones of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane early next week.
Eels Chief Executive Officer Paul Osborne said the unified posse was awaiting confirmation from Queensland authorities that (a) players could get into the affected areas; and (b) they could be accommodated for up to three days.
"Like the rest of Australia we simply want to do whatever we can to help," Osborne said. "Clean houses, remove rubbish, whatever. We want to show the people of Queensland that we're here for them, that we care."
The united relief effort was first born early Tuesday January 11 when Walker - who boasts family throughout the flooded Toowoomba and Ipswich regions - asked Osborne for a handful of signed jerseys to send north. Instead, the Eels boss got on the phone to chairman Roy Spagnolo. Then Canterbury rival Todd Greenberg. Another call each and the Panthers and Tigers were also on board.
"All of Australia is trying to work out how best to provide assistance and we're no different," Greenberg said. "Obviously we'll be doing fundraisers but we also decided an appropriate response would be our physical presence."
While the group will be guided by Queensland officials when it comes to the numbers of players who travel, Parramatta have already offered up their entire NRL squad.
Bulldogs back-rower David Stagg, who made his Origin debut for Queensland in 2006, will lead the Canterbury contingent while Maroons legend Petero Civoniceva is tipped to co-ordinate the Panthers.
"And to be honest it's all a bit overwhelming." Walker continued. "To think that 24 hours after chasing up four jerseys we've got four clubs involved, it's incredible.
"I know Queenslanders will really appreciate us getting involved with the clean up, school visits, helping wherever we can.
"A few days back, the house my in-laws live in at Toowoomba was 20 metres from being swept away. That's how bad it is up there . . . the lucky ones only have their houses flooded."
