#TackleBullying campaign: Rugby League legends add their voices to our anti-bullying campaign

TWELVE legends of League, who will be going into schools over the next six weeks telling children how to Tackle Bullying, share their experiences.

THESE are the legends of League who will be going into schools over the next six weeks telling children how to Tackle Bullying.

"Children listen with different ears when someone they look up to such as a famous rugby league player gives them messages and advice on bullying," child psychologist Elizabeth Seeley-Wait said.

The League legends got together last week for their training as part of the NRL and Sunday Telegraph's Tackle Bullying campaign, which will reach 300,000 children.

Every one of them has had personal experience of bullying:

Mario Fenech, former Rabbitohs captain:

"There were not many Mario's around when I first went to school and I was bullied mercilessly. I used to get home and my Mum was upset because I was crying. But, when I look back, the bullying pushed me in the right direction. I just tried harder. It hurt me but I learnt so many skills to be able to cope. If we can make it better, through the rugby community, and teach people that bullying is wrong then that is a very good thing."

Shaun Timmins, former Dragons, Origin and International player:

"I saw a lot of bullying when I was at school. But it is far worse now with cyber bulling which carries on after the school bell has rung with social media. It has even pushed some kids to suicide. You can see social media is where a lot of this stuff happens and it's good if we can tell kids who are being bullied that they need to speak to someone."

Joe Galuvao, former New Zealand international and Manly Premiership winner:

"I was bullied by some older guys when I was the new kid at school. It really intimidated me, they pushed me around and threw some punches. No one wanted to be friends with the new kid who was being bullied. It only really settled down when I had been there a while, formed some relationships and those older kids left. I can really relate to what the Tackle Bullying campaign is trying to achieve."

Ben Ross, former Queensland State of Origin forward:

"As a kid I was bullied a lot about my weight. I often came home from school pretty upset. It gave me the motivation to lose the weight and I looked at a healthy lifestyle. It changed perceptions. Every kid is going to face bullying at some stage and if we can help curb that and get the right message across then we are doing the right thing."

Petero Civoniceva, former Broncos, Origin and Australian international player:

"Look at me, I am big and ugly. You wouldn't think I could be bullied but I was at primary school. I used to get the bus with some high school kids. It was a frightening experience. I thought the best thing was to ignore it and not tell anyone but other boys kept joining in. Eventually I told someone I could trust, parents and a teacher, and through their help it put a stop to it. Bullying is a huge issue within our community."

David Peachey, former Australian international and NSW full-back:

"Bullying comes in many forms and for me it was because of my colour. It was a life lesson learnt for the bully after I mentioned it to my cousins. Once you have been on the receiving end of bullying you can see why kids can get so depressed. Our message to kids now is that you can stand up to bullying."

Scott Prince, former Australian International and Queensland State of Origin player:

"I have two girls aged 10 and 8 and I worry about them, particularly with social media. You cannot get away from it. They talk to their mum and when she worries about what the kids are feeling I pull them aside and tell them to let the teacher know. I understand it. When I was a kid my friend was really clever and picked on because of his looks. I stepped in and told them to leave him alone. It wasn't a big deal at the time but I look back and am really proud of that."

Anthony Quinn, former Newcastle Knights and Melbourne Storm player:

"I wasn't bullied at school but growing up and also in football you do see it from time to time. The education campaign and the awareness that it creates among kids is fantastic. The message is to just talk about it - in that way a problem can be fixed and resolved."

Adam MacDougall, former State of Origin and Australian international three quarter back:

"I was talking about bullying to kids in Western Australia when this boy, about eight years old, stood up and told the class how he was bullied at his old school. He was a real hero to stand up like that. It made a big impact on everyone. The teacher has contacted me since and said that the culture in the school has changed since our visit."

Danny Buderus, former Knights, NSW and Australian hooker:

"At school I always hated seeing kids being bullied. I would step in to stop it. Really it's crazy to think some kids enjoyed it. I have three kids now and it is my worst nightmare to think of anything like that happening to them."

Hazem El Masri, former Bulldog and international player and legendary goal kicker:

"I arrived in Australia from Lebanon half way through year six. I wasn't as big as other kids and was easy to bully. I had been here two weeks when this really big kid kicked me. We got into a scuffle and I got him into a headlock. The most important thing is to report it, which I did and the teacher told him if he did it again he would be expelled. Later I was going home when I met his cousin, who was even bigger than he was. But the kid I had fought stepped in and told him to leave me alone otherwise he would be expelled. That's the Tackle Bullying message, always report it."

To find out more about the campaign and to leave a message of support, visit our #tacklebullying Hope Wall here

The League legends got together last week for their training as part of the NRL and Sunday Telegraph's Tackle Bullying campaign