League legends lend a hand

Locals and legends join forces for drought appeal

MEN OF LEAGUE: Locals and legends join forces in Roma to spread goodwill (from left) Michael Crocker, Rocky Laurie, David Shillington, Lyle Cherry, Owen Lingard and Frank Saunders. Picture: Ellen Ransley

The NRL wrapped up its Rugby Drought Relief Goodwill Tour in Roma on Friday, after a jam-packed week of school workshops and afternoons at the pub.

Organised in partnership with Men of League, the tour stopped in Longreach, Blackall, Charleville, StGeorge and Roma, with the intention of engaging locals and raising awareness of support systems in place for those affected by the ongoing drought.

"It's purely about goodwill to attend drought-affected areas in southwest Queensland,” Queensland Rugby League regional general manager Glen Ottaway said.

"It's nice to come out and not only show that we care about rugby league but we also care about the community.”

NRL players David Shillington, Michael Crocker,Chris Walker, KurtCapewell and Shane Walker ran development workshops at schools during the day.

"The kids that we've visited at schools ... the insight they would have gotten from the players and learning about their experiences would have been really valuable,” Ottaway said.

Broncos' legend Chris Walker, NRL development officer Grant Bignell and former Maroons stars Michael Crocker and David Shillington at the Commonwealth Hotel. Picture: Ellen Ransley

Designed to support all involved in rugby league, Men of League has more than 8000 active members and was promoting their organisation throughout the tour.

"We help anyone that has ever been involved with the game anywhere in Australia,” NRL wellbeing manager Mark Bunting said.

"We came out with the QRL to see if there were people in these rural communities that we could support, especially with the ongoing drought,” Bunting said.

"It's league heartland out here.”

Ottaway said the tour had been a reminder for the NRL of the important relationship between rugby league and rural southwest Queensland.

"It's important that we invest as much as we can to keep rugby league alive out here,” he said.

"In some towns, it's the only organised team sport and it ties the community together.”

Organisers were happy with the success of the tour and said they would do it again if the drought didn't break soon.