NRL 2022: New Bulldogs recruit Josh Addo-Carr’s Oz tag cameo appearance delights NRL fans

The fastest man in rugby league is certainly enjoying life in Sydney. He didn’t score the 783 tries predicted by one fan, but Josh Addo-Carr still made a huge impression in his Oz tag cameo.

It’s an Oztag player’s worst nightmare, the fastest man in rugby league Josh Addo-Carr turning up to play a game in Homebush on a Wednesday night.

Somehow the flyer didn’t scored the ‘783’ tries a fan on social media had predicted, but the new Canterbury recruit told News Corp he scored the most important one – the winning try.

“My uncle plays in that team called the ‘SRSLY BOYS’ with a few of his mates and some young boys. He asked if I wanted to come play Oz tag with them and I just said ‘yeah, sweet. I’ll come down and play with you’.

“We won … and I scored the winning try, just quietly,” Addo-Carr said with a laugh.

Josh Addo-Carr and the Oztag locals.

The Fox was spotted playing Oztag.

“It was my first footy game in around two months so it was good to just get some ks in the legs.

“I hadn’t played Oztag in around five years so it was good to have a run around with everyone and to play with the local kids down there.

Addo-Carr’s Oztag cameo not only delighted his fellow players but NRL fans on social media.

“He would have 783 tries in the first half alone,” Jake Eades posted on Instagram.

Most just couldn’t believe that one of the biggest stars in the NRL had made the effort to show up and spend time playing touch football with the locals.

Josh Addo-Carr is already making his mark in Sydney.

“Imagine rocking up to play some friendly tag on your Wednesday night and Addo-Carr is in the opposition team,” Zac Wallace wrote.

But Jaiden Cahill asked the question that would have been on the mind of every player in the team opposing Addo-Carr.

“How could you defend the fastest person on the planet?,” he posted.

Oz tag isn’t the only place Addo-Carr has been trying to keep fit ahead of his return to pre-season with new side the Bulldogs on December 7.

The 26-year old has been spotted at a number of gyms across Sydney since arriving from Melbourne to take-up a four-year deal with the Bulldogs.

While he is yet to officially start training, Addo-Carr has been into Belmore to meet his new teammates.

The Bulldogs will be delighted to see the former Storm flyer so eager to get started.

Addo-Carr, a two-time premiership winner, told News Corp there was a sense of urgency to turn the club’s on-field fortunes around and find success after a wooden spoon finish in 2021.

“I’ve been in to meet the boys and coaching staff, there’s a good vibe man,” Addo-Carr said.

“Everyone is training hard and really building to something.

“I came here for a different opportunity and to help grow the team, help the team be successful and help the young fellas coming through. That’s special in itself and I’m ready to rip in with the boys when I start training.

“Hopefully we can give the fans what they want and what they deserve. I know the Bulldogs have struggled in the last couple of years but I’m going to do everything I can to put my best foot forward.

“At the end of the day though, it depends on how bad we want it (to win), and I get the sense everyone wants to win.”

Fifita returns to training after life-threatening coma ordeal

Luke Keary was all smiles during his pre-season Roosters reunion as the playmaker joined his teammates on the training paddock for the first time in months.

Keary opted to stay behind in Bondi and focus on his recovery from an ACL injury rather than relocate with the club when the NRL moved to Queensland in July.

The three-time premiership winner started running again before the end of the season and is pushing to be available for round one selection in 2022.

Luke Keary has given the Roosters a huge pre-season boost.

New Roosters coaching staff members Brett Morris and Jason Ryles.

Rehab buddy Lindsay Collins, also recovering from an ACL injury, has returned to training and should return in time for the trials.

Former flyer Brett Morris, who has swapped the jersey for an ear piece and clipboard, was also spotted out at Moore Park in his new role as an assistant to head coach Trent Robinson. Former Melbourne assistant Jason Ryles was also seen handing out instructions at training during the week.

In the Shire, big man Andrew Fifita was spotted doing running drills as the prop forward returned to the training paddock after a serious throat injury back in round 22.

Fifita was forced into an induced coma for five days after a suffered a fractured larynx, which required surgery, during a tackle against the Newcastle Knights.

Jackson Hastings has started preseason with the Tigers ahead of his NRL return.

Tyrone Peachey as a Tiger.

At the Wests Tigers, Jackson Hastings officially reported for pre-season training last week.

Hastings, who will form a new halves combination with Luke Brooks in 2022, hit the weights at the gym as part of the 25-year old’s strength and conditioning training to help prepare for the physicality of the NRL.

Fellow newcomer Tyrone Peachey was unveiled for the first time in club colours. The 30-year old recruit has joined the Tigers on a two-year deal, where he is expected to start the 2022 at lock.

Injured back Adam Doueihi is recovering from a second ACL surgery to his left knee after going under the knife in September but is backing training in the gym, on a modified program, with the rest of the playing group.

The first group of Tigers players returned for pre-season in early November.

Parramatta’s Reed Mahoney is back on the training field after undergoing surgery in August on a season-ending shoulder injury that he suffered initially back in June.

Mahoney, who is off-contract and yet to make a decision about his future, should be available for selection in round one.

Originally published as NRL 2022: New Bulldogs recruit Josh Addo-Carr’s Oz tag cameo appearance delights NRL fans