Moses Mbye launches Treasure Chest project for struggling Sunshine Coast juniors

Former Noosa Pirates junior and current NRL player Moses Mbye has launched a campaign to slash the price of playing footy for young children in a bid to bolster junior stocks.

Former Noosa Pirates junior and current NRL player Moses Mbye is launching a project to try and slash the costs of junior rugby league for those doing it tough in a bid to help bolster playing stocks.

In 2017 the average cost of upfront registration fees for junior rugby league in Queensland was $235.

Mbye’s ‘Treasure Chest’ project is aimed at serving as a grant or support system for disadvantaged Noosa Pirates junior players and their families.

“At the end of the day the goal is to give everyone the same opportunity as I had and now through junior sport, particularly rugby league, numbers are down and it’s getting harder for parents to afford the registration fees,” he said.

“Most of the time there are multiple siblings wanting to play and then on top of the fees you’ve got the equipment of boots, mouthguard, kit, the travel costs and then even those players that make representative sides it’s another $2000 or $3000 to send them off to those carnivals.

“It’s expensive and difficult for a lot of people and then the collateral damage of not having your kid playing sport means they’re doing other activities and sometimes those activities aren’t very good.”

Moses Mbye representing the St. George Illawarra Dragons (left) and the Noosa Pirates as a junior. Picture: Jason McCawley/Getty Images.

The inaugural golf, lunch and auction event will include guest speakers such as retired NRL stars Jake Friend and Reni Maitua, with all money raised going towards the treasure chest.

The current St. George Illawarra Dragons fullback said he hoped to expand the project to other Sunshine Coast clubs.

“Right now is the pilot event so I’ve used the contacts and connections I have at Noosa to be able to get it off the ground but most definitely the plan is to have it available and accessible for all clubs and families a part of Sunshine Coast junior rugby league,” he said.

“There’s been a lot of generous people already raising money and some that have donated memorabilia and other artefacts to auction off so it should be a great day.

The event will be held on Sunday, October 2 with tickets and more information available here.