‘This is that on steroids’: Beer Footy and Food Festival returns with a bang

Things are starting to heat up in the run to the finals, but the hottest ticket in town this weekend will be at Henson Park for one of the biggest events of the year.

Jai Arrow is relieved to be one of the last fit men standing at the Rabbitohs this season, but there is one downside to his clean bill of health with the veteran forward “filthy” that he’ll miss Saturday’s Beer Footy and Food Festival at Henson Park.

More than 10,000 people are expected to fill out the suburban venue where they’ll be treated to 30 different beer vendors, 20 food trucks, live pro wrestling and streaker bull rush as the Jets take on the Dragons in the NSW Cup.

Arrow will be in Gosford preparing to take on the Sharks when the annual event gets under way, and he’ll be jealous when he sees all the pictures on social media of people living it up on the famous hill.

NRL stars Toby Rudolf and Jai Arrow pose with musician Freddy Crabs to promote the Beer Footy and Food Festival. Picture: Richard Dobson

“It looks unreal,” he said at the launch of the event as he tucked into a Japanese-Mexican fusion taco.

“I’m filthy that we’re playing on Saturday night at 7.30. If it had been Friday night, it would have been ideal.

“That’s what I was saying to (Sharks forward) Toby Rudolf. Both of us are playing each other this week, and we would have been here straight after the game if we were playing on Friday night.

“It looks like a really cool event. You’ve got the wrestlers here which I’m quite intrigued about because I know James Graham wrestled one of those boys last year at one of their big events.

“It’ll be a cracking day and I’m spewing that I’m missing out on it.”

Roosters lock Victor Radley is sidelined with a shoulder injury but will make the trip to enjoy an afternoon of old-school fun.

“A lot of my friends play for the North Sydney Bears, and you go to North Sydney Oval on a random Saturday or Sunday afternoon and you watch the footy and it’s such a great day,” he said.

“This is that on steroids.

“It’s one of the best days of the year for any footy fan.”

Freddy Crabs will be sore on Saturday after he was tackled by Jasmin Strange. Picture: Richard Dobson

One of the highlights of the day will be streaker bull rush, which is a spin on the old schoolyard game.

Hit artist Freddy Crabs was there to explain the game at the launch and copped a few bruising shots for his troubles, including a couple of heavy hits from Roosters NRLW star Jasmin Strange.

“I’m so sore from my game on Sunday so I better post that video because my S and C (strength and conditioning) team won’t be happy with me doing full contact after that,” she laughed.