NRL Players Community Carnival Experiences
22.02.10 08:16
Over 500 NRL players and staff were recently involved in the NRLs Community Carnival. The players and development officers have done an outstanding job and been wonderful ambassadors for our game, Mr. Gallop said today.
Cronulla Sharks new recruit Brod Wright
It was an amazing experience especially being a city kid. the NSW country is really beautiful (apparently be- cause its been raining and its very green!) The kids out there really love there footy. It was really eye opening to see how such naturally gifted football players struggled so hard to get a regular weekend game and how badly they wanted to play.
It was really great to see how much the CRL pushed registrations and making sure kids got involved in the sport (even the girls who were encouraged to either play footy or netball.) The teachers also have to be noticed, they do such a great job in such remote areas (we went to Goodoonga on the last day, the whole school had around 50 students) and under such difficult circumstances. It really outlined how rugby league is such a positive influence on the outback community and especially the indige- nous community, where kids can easily be led astray by drugs and alcohol. The CRL Development officers were awesome, very accommodating and really showed us a great time.
Canberra Raiders star Joel Monaghan
The Community Carnival was great this year, we got out to some towns in the Riverina which is important for us here at the Raiders because we have a few players from this region. The kids at all the schools we went to were very excited to see us and I think the players get a real kick out of making their day just by passing a footy or signing a few autographs.
Its also good for us to visit this area as we see it as a really important fan base for us, as its only a couple of hours drive for the kids to come and watch us play at Canberra Stadium. Its also nice to have some new fans to and hopefully theyll get behind us this year.
Gold Coast Titan Idol Matt Rogers
"It was exciting to see the amount of support rugby league has in the Northern Rivers area. Living in the city you can really miss what we do for the smaller communities that we don't get a chance to see on a regular basis. I look forward to spending more time down there, I loved it."
Rabbitohs players Dylan Farrell, Kane Morgan, Luke Capewell and Brendan Barnes visited the NSW Far West Region recently along with Souths Cares General Manager John Hutchinson, ARL Development Officer Mick Armstrong and Country Rugby League Education and Community Liaison Officer Kyle Myers for the 2010 One Community Carnival.
Players and staff travelled to Bourke, Brewarrina, Cobar and Nyngan clocking up some 1000 plus kilometres delivering Healthy and Active lifestyle messages through the Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well program. Players also spoke of their own journeys including how they had coped with peer pressure, the people who had supported them throughout their journey and how they had used goal setting to realise and achieve their ambitions.
Schools visited included Nyngan Public School, St Josephs Nyngan (held at Nyngan Tigers Rugby League Club fields), Cobar High School, St Johns Primary Cobar and Bourke Rugby League Ground. Luke Capewell and Kane Morgan also visited Brewarrina Community Centre and addressed members of the community as well as visiting a group of aged care men at Nyngan Hospital. Approximately 500 children attended the clinics.
NRLs One Community Director Trish Crews
Over 500 NRL players and staff were recently involved in the NRLs Community Carnival. The following had been distributed to children: -
6,500 balls 30,000 posters
70 bottles of sunscreen Over 2,500 bottles of water 7,500 wristbands Over 400 schools 100,000 school children 78 communities 500 Eat Well Play Well Stay Well DVDs and classroom resource packs
The players and development officers have done an outstanding job and been wonderful ambassadors for our game, Mr. Gallop said today. Each year the Community Carnival reminds us of how much Rugby League touches peoples lives and Saturdays All Stars match was a celebration of the amazing work the players and clubs do, not just during Community Carnival but throughout the year.