Tathra product Adam Elliott realises a dream in bringing the Bulldogs back home

As over 100 Tathra schoolkids mobbed the Bulldogs during their captain’s run on Friday it was hard to tell who was more excited - them or hometown hero Adam Elliott.

Canterbury Bulldogs training at Tarthra which was ravaged by bushfires. The local primary school has been given the day off to watch them train ahead of their trial match in Bega on Saturday. Picture John Ford. .

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It was difficult to establish who was more excited.

The 110 students from Tathra Public, who had been given Friday off school to watch the Bulldogs train?

Or Canterbury forward and hometown hero, Adam Elliott.

“I’m seriously blown away,’’ Elliott said.

“I grew up playing on this field wishing that I could play NRL for the Bulldogs. And now here I am, bringing the Bulldogs back to my home town.

“I have to pinch myself and step back a little bit.

“When we were driving into town, I was pointing out the window to all the boys on the bus, ‘that’s my house, that’s my old school and that’s my mates houses.’

Elliott brought the Bulldogs to Tathra. Picture by John Ford.

“It all hit me as soon as we got down to the footy oval and I saw all the kids.’’

The small seaside town on the South Coast of NSW - where Elliott’s mother Jeanine works at the Big 4 Caravan Park -turned blue and white on Friday.

And it’s all because of Elliott.

As soon as the 24-year-old learned that Canterbury were playing Canberra in a trial match Saturday night in Bega, two hours west of Tathra, Elliott sprinted into his coach Dean Pay’s office at Belmore.

“I went straight to Deano and asked if we could train our captain’s run in Tathra,’’ Elliott said.

“And straight away, he was all for it. It was a three-second conversation.

“I told him if he could make it happen, it would be a dream come true for me.’’

Tathra Public Principal Lisa Freedman said the school’s decision to offer their students from Year-1 to Year-6 the unique “excursion” was important for a number of reasons.

“The kids - and some of the teachers - who are Bulldogs supporters, were very excited,’’ Freedman said.

The local primary school was given the day off to watch the Bulldogs train.

“But it doesn’t matter what team the kids follow, they all get to see the players train, when they normally would never have that chance.

“Also, this is a town that loves it’s sport. And we love it when our community members get the opportunity to follow their dreams, so we’re very proud of Adam.’’

With kids clinging to his legs, parents taking selfies at the same time as his grandmother planted a kiss on his cheek, the Telegraph asked if there were any risk that Elliott may not return to Belmore after this weekend?

“I’m having that good of a trip, I don’t know,’’ Elliott smiled.

“But nah, I think what this town all love is that I’m going back (to Sydney) and representing them.

“It’s great to come down and visit them, but they know I’ve still got a big job to do this year with the Bulldogs.’’

Originally published as Tathra product Adam Elliott realises a dream in bringing the Bulldogs back home