TIMBUMBURI Public School welcomed Gold Coast Titans trio Oshae Tuiasau, Matt Robinson and Dave Shillington to their tiny school yesterday with some energetic, enthusiastic and entertaining questions.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
It was a vibrant session on health and well-being, astutely and deftly run by Zac Russ, himself a former NRL player and now premiership-winning North Tamworth player and coach.
The three Titans were part of a six-strong group also including Nathan Friend, Karl Lawton and Jed Cartwright, who were also visiting Currabubula, Werris Creek and Quirindi schools yesterday and before heading off to Gunnedah, Curlewis, Boggabri and Mullaley schools today.
They are part of the National Rugby League’s Community Carnival, a program where all NRL clubs reach out to various schools and towns throughout the nation over the next six weeks.
They will travel an estimated 40,000km, visit more than 1000 schools and conduct almost 100 junior league clinics such as the afternoon sessions at David Taylor Park and No 1 Sportsground Quirindi yesterday and this afternoon’s Longmuir Oval clinic in Gunnedah.
If all the sessions are run as well as that provided by Russ yesterday then the NRL is in a state of well-being itself.
Every NRL club, together with NRL ambassadors, will be on the road after the Titans’ Timbumburi launch and may reach 250,000 young hearts and souls.
The Titans trio were greatly impressed by the knowledge of the Timbumburi students of their club – they easily came up with the name of Titan mascot “Blade”.
Robinson and Tuiasau admitted it was their first time in Tamworth and the local region.
Shillington had been here before to play in a trial for his former club, Canberra Raiders, against Canterbury Bulldogs a few years ago.
He’d also played with former Tamworthians Phil Graham, Alan Tongue and Tom Learoyd-Lahrs at the Raiders.
They had even had a meal with big Tom at Joe Maguires Hotel on Wednesday night after a late flight into Tamworth.
“We’re visiting something like 12 schools,” Shillington said.
“We’ll be talking to the kids about health, hydration and well-being.”
He’s played 204 NRL games and about to start a new part of his NRL career with the Titans.
Robinson, 25, has played 38 NRL games, the former Warrior and Penrith backrower hoping to make his mark in his first season at the Titans .
Then there is 20-year-old quietly-spoken Tuiasau.
He’s been in the Titan system for four years, the 115kg prop hoping to make his mark in the Titans NRL squad after playing in the Under 20 NYC squad.
It’s an exciting time for him although he won’t be heading to New Zealand for this weekend’s NRL Nines but instead will be aiming to play in one of the two Titans teams to play trials in New Zealand and Darwin next week.
“After that we’ve got a final trial against the Rabbitohs (South Sydney) ,” Robinson said.
All three push the the positive powers of sleep as a healing and growing weapon for the body as well as hydrating (drinking water) the day before games and having a good network of friends and family to enhance their well- being.
Having good schoolmates and plenty of sporting teams to play in is also a positive part for pre-teens to help them grow up and maybe play 200-plus NRL games as Shillington has.
While he is in the twilight of his career he is also peparing for his next phase by continuing a university degree and ensuring his body is hydrated and has at least eight hours of sleep a day to recover.
He said it was hugely important for the young students to have friends, schoolmates and teammates around them to help them grow with their families.
NRL Chief Operating Officer Suzanne Young said the NRL Community Carnival visits were an opportunity for rugby league to reach out to thousands of supporters and club fans in regional and remote areas and give back ahead of the 2016 season.
“Our fans are the lifeblood of our game and our clubs and ambassadors do an amazing job in local communities right throughout the year, spending time with kids and educating them on the importance of eating well and staying healthy,” Young said.