Granty
02-02-2006, 09:31 AM
http://qrl.com.au/display.php?pg_id=1200
That's Dedication For You!
http://qrl.com.au/images_lib/cowboys.jpg http://qrl.com.au/images_lib/CommunityCarnival.gif http://qrl.com.au/images_lib/72579_logoIMG.gif
NRL Media Release
THE Qantas Community Carnival may have unearthed the game's most dedicated young Rugby League fan after a visit to the School of the Air in Mt Isa today.
Some 100 NRL players have traveled to 40 destinations across NSW and Queensland where, over the next two days, they will take part in school visits, coaching clinics, fund raisers and other community events.
While it's been a welcome back to school treat for thousands of kids, the most unusual visit took place at the School of the Air in Mt Isa.
Josh Hannay, Shane Tronc, Steve Southern and Ray Cashmere talked to some 140 students ranging from years 3-7, who are spread across isolated properties from the Gulf of Carpentaria to South Australia.
Twelve-year-old Jake Healey rang from Armraynald Cattle station 570km North of Mt Isa in the heart of the gulf country.
To the delight of the North Queensland players Jake revealed his family held season tickets to the Cowboys and drove 12 hours to attend an average of three home games a year.
"Realising you are talking to kids six and seven hundred kilometers away and realising that one would be driving 12 hours with his family to see you play is a reminder of how much enthusiasm is out there," Shane Tronc said.
"The kids knew their footy and were asking whether Ty Williams would play centre or wing this year, who'd be taking Paul Rauhihi's place?
"They really love the game and it was a great experience to be out here with them."
NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, was in Australia's 'Koala Capital' Gunnedah with Clinton Schifcofske and other Canberra Raiders players.
Along the way local hero Alan Tongue stopped for a spot of road side 'droving' near a cattle property, while others found themselves nursing Koalas after a civic reception.
"There's nothing like seeing the looks of kids faces when they meet the stars," Mr Gallop said.
"Particularly when you see them react to home grown products like Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Alan Tongue.
"Fans both young and old have been raving about the positive contribution and the patience shown by the players today and during the Tigers visit here last week."
While temperatures in Gunnedah hit the high thirties, in Gundagai and Cootamundra it nudged into the 40's as Craig Fitzgibbon faced an enthusiastic reception leading the Roosters contingent through a series of school visits.
One Gundagai student was quick to point out how much bigger the players seemed on television.
As always, the questions from the children provided a combination of insight and entertainment.
In Orange kids were keen to know which stadium players most liked, whether they preferred day games or night games (Penrith's contingent preferred night games because it was a cooler).
While in the Queensland town a Biloela one year three student got down to the basics with the burning question of the day.
"What do you do if you need to go to the toilet during a game," the youngster asked.
"You just have to hold on," replied Parramatta's Joel Reddy
The Roosters English prop Adrian Morely had his own question of the day:
"Why is the dog that sits on the Tucker Box so famous?"
The Qantas Community Carnival continues tomorrow in towns across NSW and Queensland.
That's Dedication For You!
http://qrl.com.au/images_lib/cowboys.jpg http://qrl.com.au/images_lib/CommunityCarnival.gif http://qrl.com.au/images_lib/72579_logoIMG.gif
NRL Media Release
THE Qantas Community Carnival may have unearthed the game's most dedicated young Rugby League fan after a visit to the School of the Air in Mt Isa today.
Some 100 NRL players have traveled to 40 destinations across NSW and Queensland where, over the next two days, they will take part in school visits, coaching clinics, fund raisers and other community events.
While it's been a welcome back to school treat for thousands of kids, the most unusual visit took place at the School of the Air in Mt Isa.
Josh Hannay, Shane Tronc, Steve Southern and Ray Cashmere talked to some 140 students ranging from years 3-7, who are spread across isolated properties from the Gulf of Carpentaria to South Australia.
Twelve-year-old Jake Healey rang from Armraynald Cattle station 570km North of Mt Isa in the heart of the gulf country.
To the delight of the North Queensland players Jake revealed his family held season tickets to the Cowboys and drove 12 hours to attend an average of three home games a year.
"Realising you are talking to kids six and seven hundred kilometers away and realising that one would be driving 12 hours with his family to see you play is a reminder of how much enthusiasm is out there," Shane Tronc said.
"The kids knew their footy and were asking whether Ty Williams would play centre or wing this year, who'd be taking Paul Rauhihi's place?
"They really love the game and it was a great experience to be out here with them."
NRL Chief Executive, Mr David Gallop, was in Australia's 'Koala Capital' Gunnedah with Clinton Schifcofske and other Canberra Raiders players.
Along the way local hero Alan Tongue stopped for a spot of road side 'droving' near a cattle property, while others found themselves nursing Koalas after a civic reception.
"There's nothing like seeing the looks of kids faces when they meet the stars," Mr Gallop said.
"Particularly when you see them react to home grown products like Tom Learoyd-Lahrs and Alan Tongue.
"Fans both young and old have been raving about the positive contribution and the patience shown by the players today and during the Tigers visit here last week."
While temperatures in Gunnedah hit the high thirties, in Gundagai and Cootamundra it nudged into the 40's as Craig Fitzgibbon faced an enthusiastic reception leading the Roosters contingent through a series of school visits.
One Gundagai student was quick to point out how much bigger the players seemed on television.
As always, the questions from the children provided a combination of insight and entertainment.
In Orange kids were keen to know which stadium players most liked, whether they preferred day games or night games (Penrith's contingent preferred night games because it was a cooler).
While in the Queensland town a Biloela one year three student got down to the basics with the burning question of the day.
"What do you do if you need to go to the toilet during a game," the youngster asked.
"You just have to hold on," replied Parramatta's Joel Reddy
The Roosters English prop Adrian Morely had his own question of the day:
"Why is the dog that sits on the Tucker Box so famous?"
The Qantas Community Carnival continues tomorrow in towns across NSW and Queensland.