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</H1>Thursday, February 11, 2010 » 05:33am
Parramatta star Nathan Hindmarsh believes there is no need for bloodshed between the AFL and NRL.
Parramatta star Nathan Hindmarsh, the face of rugby league's fight to retain control of Sydney's west, believes AFL can be kept at bay without the need for bloodshed between the codes.
As the AFL continued its aggressive push into western Sydney with a visit by premier Geelong to Greystanes on Wednesday, Hindmarsh took on a conciliatory tone in his first day as strategy co-ordinator for the Western Sydney Academy.
He will spend at least a day a week spreading the rugby league gospel and cutting off AFL at the pass, but is not interested in out and out confrontation with his rivals.
'Everyone says it's a war but I don't think it's a war,' Hindmarsh declared.
'AFL's putting a team out there and kids are going to play whatever game they want to play.'
But the Eels veteran conceded the entry of Team GWS in the AFL in 2012 will present a massive challenge for rugby league.
'I think it's going to have an impact, kids will want to play the game,' he said.
'We do live in Australia where kids love to play sport and I can't see why they won't play AFL.'
'There will be a couple of kids that will want to play - there are already kids out there now playing AFL.'
'It (Team GWS) will strengthen their claims out west but I think we've got a great product in rugby league that's been around the last 100 years and will remain that way.'
Hindmarsh rejects talk he will rugby league's 'saviour' in the west, saying he simply wants to put back something into the game that has given him so much.
'I'm just someone who's stuck his hand up and wants to help out an organisation that's already doing a good job,' he explained.
'We just want to make rugby league as fun and as enjoyable as when I played as a kid.'
Rookie Wests Tigers centre Blake Ayshford typifies the new breed of youngster the two codes are fighting over.
He dabbled with Australian Rules as a schoolkid but was never going to be lured to the game.
He has seen first-hand the passion for rugby league in Sydney's west but warned the game's leaders not to get complacent or play down the AFL threat.
'I can't see it threatening too much out there but you've always got to look out for it because it can hurt rugby league, especially in the heartland,' he said
'I watch a bit of AFL on TV but never really thought about playing it.'
'I'm happy in league and I think the game is pretty healthy at the moment.'
http://www.nrl.com/newsviews/latest...7553/nrl-stars-blitz-west-sydney/default.aspxNRL Wed, 10 Feb 2010 16:08:00
One Community Carnvial Copyright: NRL
Rising Panthers star Wade Graham still remembers being an awestruck kid attending coaching clinics with his NRL heroes today the teenager was among a host of NRL players inspiring a new generation at the Community Carnival.
More than 2000 children today played alongside NRL stars from the Panthers, Wests Tigers, Eels and Bulldogs in a Western Sydney coaching clinic blitz that showcased the games Eat Well Play Well Stay Well health message.
Its a message that more than 500 NRL players and development officers are carrying across Australia this week as they visit areas across regional and rural NSW and Queensland, Victoria, New Zealand and Western Australia, while the NRL All Stars and Indigenous All Stars have converged on the Gold Coast in the games biggest ever Community Carnival.
In a united effort from the four Western Sydney NRL clubs, Graham joined the likes of Bulldogs hooker Michael Ennis, Wests Tigers prop Keith Galloway and Eels winger Eric Grothe at Belmore Oval, while other clinics were held at Parramatta Stadium, Penriths CUA Stadium and Campbelltowns Bradbury Oval.
Being a Western Sydney junior, its great to see so many kids out and about, not just doing Rugby League but sport in general and its great to see the clubs supporting it as well, Graham said today.
I did a few clinics when I was younger, we would have NRL players come out to the schools, and were doing similar things here, and it was awesome.
I remember being a kid, and youre just awestruck by the NRL players, so its great to see nothing much has changed and to get out into the community.
Ennis added: Its a great game Rugby League, whether its boys or girls, especially at this age, it teaches them such good qualities.
Not only will they make some friends here today, theyll also learn a lot of hand-eye co-ordination, team building, little drills that will benefit them for many years to come, and theyll go home tonight and have a laugh about it with mum and dad.
NSW Origin star and new Eels recruit Justin Poore, who was among the players at todays clinics at Parramatta Stadium, added: Its great that One Community has put this on for the kids. They get a lot of enjoyment out of it, they learn and they get to exercise while theyre at it.
The Community Carnival excitement extended from Western Sydney to the far west of the state today as Rabbitohs stars visited Nyngan and Bourke.
Nyngan Hospital was draped in Rabbitohs colours for the visit, while the players found themselves the targets of an unusual challenge an arm wrestling contest from Brewarrina kindergarten student Grace.
For young Rabbitohs flyer Luke Capewell, who hails from the rural Queensland town of Charleville, the visit carried special importance.
I know what it is like living in a small rural area. You dont often get the opportunity to meet NRL players, Capewell said.
It is great to be able to do this for the kids and get out of Sydney. It is a big deal for these kids, which is special.
so you need to have a long one to be a professional, if your got a short one you wont make it.
sarcasm:
i would still much rather read whatever the players write than some of the crap that gets printed by journalists.
:-$;-)
