AS any true fan knows, too much League is barely enough, especially when you get to meet, and better yet throw the footy around with, two of the stars of the NRL.
Jetstar Titans Nathan Friend and Ashley Harrison put in the hard yards in Goondiwindi and Boggabilla last Wednesday, visiting four schools and Kaloma, home for the Aged.
They were there to help promote the NRL’s “Eat Well, Play Well, Stay Well” message.
“The Community Country Carnival is an annual event,” said NRL National Development Officer Col Henschell.
“It gives young players the chance to meet some of their favourite stars,” Mr Henschell said.
The Titans players talked to 3000 children and young adults in three days. Other clubs and players have been engaged in similar activities across Australia.
“We couldn’t do it without the NRL clubs releasing their top-line players,” Col said.
The children loved it, and so did the children’s mothers. “Oh, he’s so handsome,” was heard more than once.
As for the healthy eating message? It certainly gave the crowd something to think about.
By Shana Thatcher
Every schoolboy Rugby League player dreams of playing first grade in the NRL.
Jetstar Titans players Nathan Friend and Ashley Harrison told a crowd of them that while a lot of it comes down to luck, they had to put themselves in the position to take advantage of that luck when it came.
“There’s not many blokes I played rep football with who are playing first grade,” said Ashley Harrison. What’s his secret? “It comes down to something inside of you,”
Twenty-nine year old Ashley (or “Harry”) went to the Broncos on a scholarship straight out of high school. The 188cm, 95kg lock is a current Queensland State of Origin backrower.
Nathan Friend said playing rep football was not the only way to make it into an NRL side. “I was playing in the Toowoomba club competition and Ivan Henjak saw me. Next thing I was playing at the Broncos under Wayne Bennett.”
He’s playing at hooker for the Titans. He weighs 85 kgs and is 170cm tall.
“My goal for the year is the same as it has been every year. To get picked for the first grade side. And to help the Titans get further than the semis this year,” Nathan said.
“I’m a qualified brickie. You’ve always got tot have something to fall back on, after football,” he said.
“Nathan’s proof you can make it. If you want to do it, you can, if you want it badly enough,” said NRL South West Division Development Officer Carlos Napolitano.
“You’ve got to be fit, though,” Carlos said.
“That means no Maccas at training.”
Training in the NRL means hard work 11 months of the year, every year.
“We let ourselves have one month off. Pre-season training is about adding muscle (bulk) because once the season starts it’s all about recovery. Your body gets very fatigued, so we don’t do weight training during the season. You play on Friday, or Sunday and you have to be right for training on every day of the week,” Nathan said.
If you’re not fit, you don’t get picked, it’s as simple as that.
The young men listening had been looking a bit shifty since Carlos brought up the necessity of a good diet.
“These days, it’s not just what you eat, but when you eat,” Nathan said.
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