On the topic of playing ex-NRL players at sport I've played cricket against Steve Edmed and Lee Hookey. Both top blokes.. Hit Steve Edmed for a few 4's... and when we played against Hookey he was whaling evrything to he boundary in every direction. Steve Edmed's young lad was about 13 playing against men - and he was an absolute gun.
So did I as a 15 year old. Actually made the joke in my in-store week that I had to get a trade and join the business in a corporate role just so I could finally work in a store.
I saw Darren Smith at Kmart getting some homewares. Took me a while to recognise him because I thought I never even heard of the f**ker.
Andrew Symonds once trialled with the Broncos, so Ill assume he counts... Spotted him at the Darwin Airport once being chased by a bazillion media people. He kept trying to walk faster until he was safely into the Qantas Club. I thought nothing by it except, the Darwin locals must just be happy to have some big names here..... Much much later I get back to Canberra and realise that he was dropped for going fishing.....
Matt Prior walked past me the other day, I was walking out of the airport toilet, he was walking in. We had a moment.