Nathan Hindmarsh and his ongoing Legends battle with Mark O’Meley and Willie Mason
Parramatta great Nathan Hindmarsh has opened up on a Legends of League preparation that is all beers, Big Macs and ongoing battle with Bulldogs Mark O’Meley and Willie Mason.
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Nathan Hindmarsh will wake on Saturday morning and eat a Big Mac for breakfast.
But from there?
“I’ll likely get my teeth rattled by Mark O’Meley,” the retired Parramatta great says, grinning. “It seems to happen this time every year”.
Among the greatest players to ever don an Eels jersey, 40-year-old Hindmarsh is once again captaining his beloved club in the annual Legends of League tournament at Newcastle’s McDonald Jones Stadium on Saturday.
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Apart from having to race up the M1 after hosting a McHappy Day event in the morning, the skipper suggested his biggest issue will be — as usual — squaring off against a Canterbury outfit that has never lost a game on the way to claiming back-to-back titles.
“So playing them is always, err, interesting,” Hindmarsh joked. “First year, Ogre belted the absolute shit out of me.
“He rattled my ribs, my teeth, everything. I was still feeling it three weeks later.
“Then last year, it was big Willie Mason fending me in the chest and running 40m to score a try.
“Although given it’s taken Mase 15 years to get me, I’ll give him that one.”
With $75,000 in prizemoney up for grabs, several Legends teams have quietly been training for weeks in preparation for the knockout tournament – with both the Bulldogs and Barbarians early event favourites.
But as for what work Hindmarsh has done?
“Well, I’ve been on the beers in Bali for two weeks,” he revealed. “Celebrating my 40th birthday.
“So I could be a little underdone. Although I did play a game of summer soccer on Tuesday night.
“A few of us (from the Parramatta Legends team) also went to the pub and talked through our game plan over a dozen schooners.
“For the Eels side, it’s always been a case of less is more.”
Apart from Hindmarsh, the Blue & Golds boast an eclectic squad which includes the likes of Tim Mannah, Luke Burt, Mick Buettner, Mark Tookey, Paul Carige, Dennis Moran and Joel Reddy.
“But in recent years, Todd Lowrie has been out go-to man,” the skipper explained. “I’m not exactly sure what he takes before games, but Toddy tackles, kicks, chases, plays prop, halfback, and takes about three runs every set — then puts his hand up for a fourth.”
Played annually in a Nines format, and broadcast live for the first time this year on streaming service Kayo Sports, the Legends tournament will see over 90 Old Boys involved in six hours of footy with as many teams — Brisbane, Canterbury, Newcastle, Parramatta, Penrith and Barbarians.
Some of the greats playing in this year’s event, which raises money for the Mark Hughes Foundation, include Wendell Sailor, Steve Menzies, Danny Buderus and Craig Gower.
“It’s amazing what the Legends of League has been able to achieve over the past three years,” Hughes said. “They’ve donated over $40,000 to the Foundation and I really appreciate the support of all the guys who play.”
The Knights side, which boasts Andrew Johns as an assistant coach, features a host of 2001 premiership heroes, including Buderus, Robbie O’David, Bill Peden, Matt Parsons and Sean Rudder.