GOING FOR A TRY: Nathan Hindmarsh takes a run with young Tamworth players on the Hogs for the Homeless tour. Photo: Grant Robertson 030313GRC09
FORMER Eels captain Nathan Hindmarsh and former Roosters captain Brad Fittler gave Tamworth rugby league youngsters a thrill as they dropped into the city on their Hogs for the Homeless ride.
The ride was Brad’s idea, to raise money for homeless young people through Father Chris Riley’s Youth Off the Streets.
“I’ve done stuff with Father Chris Riley before and I’m a big believer in getting out to these country areas,” Brad said.
“Once Hiney retired and he said yes to the ride, I could go to Harley-Davidson, and once that happened, I saw Sony, and it all came together from there.
“No kid should have to sleep on the streets.”
Even though Tamworth turned on plenty of wet weather for the former NRL players, they said they’d still be camped out.
In Tamworth, they stayed at Jack Woolaston Oval before travelling to Ballina and Lennox Head today.
They said highlights along the way so far included riding Putty Rd for the first time, and riding through Kangaroo Valley.
“The ride into Tamworth from Scone was awesome,” Nathan said.
Brad said he enjoyed riding in the country because most people thought of it as being dry, but it was green at the moment.
In Tamworth, they gave young players a chance to have a run around with them and play a game at the minor league ovals with a rugby league clinic. The duo said they wanted to promote the game as a way to have fun and keep fit.
The trip will take them from Kiama to South West Rocks and back to Sydney, where they will do two laps around the opening NRL match of the season between the Roosters and Rabbitohs.
Catch them this morning on the Today show on Channel Nine.