Phil Rothfield: NRL troublemakers take headlines but good guys like Johnathan Thurston abound

BUZZ: Every time Johnathan Thurston takes the field we’re reminded why he is such a fabulous rugby league role model. But there are more than just him.

EVERY time Johnathan Thurston takes the field for the Cowboys, Queensland or Australia we’re reminded of why he is such a fabulous rugby league role model.

The fact he goes to the trouble of collecting the kicking tees for ball boys, hands them out to the crowd, gives away his headgear and stays back to sign autographs is why, combined with his freakish talent as a player, he has become rugby league’s No.1 icon.

Away from the television cameras, scores of other NRL players are doing wonderful things in the community. We just rarely hear about it.

Thurston is well-known for how much time he gives to fans. Pic: Wesley Monts

While the media (myself included) will swoop and savage the small percentage of players who misbehave in public, the vast majority are proudly promoting the game in their own time in schools, coaching clinics, hospital visits and other community roles.

Like on the Gold Coast, where Titans front-row stalwart Luke Douglas conducts his own surf and safety sessions for disabled kids. Douglas is also a supporter of Down syndrome Queensland — a passion born from his late mother’s role as a special education teacher in Yamba where she often taught Down syndrome children.

Manly forward Brenton Lawrence is an ambassador for Autism Australia and regularly assists with fundraising, while the Dragons’ Joel Thompson is an ambassador for the NRL State of Mind program, Headspace and Yarn Safe. He’s also part of the Dragons’ Indigenous Mentor program.

At the Bulldogs, Moses Mbye works tirelessly behind the scenes. He recently spent time assisting the Indigenous Women’s All Stars team and he often visits juvenile justice centres to speak to youngsters about getting their lives back in order.

Panthers hooker James Segeyaro recently volunteered his time to deliver the State of Mind program to Albury Thunder.

Trent Hodkinson won a community award when at the Bulldogs and started writing the names of sick kids on his kicking tee to give to them. Pic: Gregg Porteous

Trent Hodkinson spends time supporting the Starlight Foundation and his ‘Kicks for Kids’ campaign. Every game he writes the name of a child suffering from a chronic illness on his kicking tee and personally presents it to them after the game. Beautiful stuff.

Parramatta prop Tim Mannah is not only an ambassador for multiple causes including Ronald McDonald House, but has also launched his own charity — The Mannah Foundation.

Manly’s local hero Jake Trbojevic is an NRL Education Ambassador and already has his first degree — a bachelor of management, sport and exercise. He also helps coach the under-14s Mona Vale Raiders side, which is his junior club.

Luke Douglas is a supporter of Down syndrome Australia. Pic: Brendan Radke

The list goes on and on, but no player is more involved in his junior league and grassroots than Wests Tigers skipper Aaron Woods — he speaks at fundraisers and donates his own gear for any Balmain club that needs help.

Teammate Kevin Naiqama helps feed the homeless in Kings Cross. Robbie Farah looks after a charity called ‘Mates on a Mission’ and Dene Halatau is a mental health ambassador for a number of organisations. David Simmons also helps feed the homeless in Western Sydney.

Big League magazine Round 6 issue, on sale NOW

Recently Roosters star Shaun Kenny-Dowall was in the news for all the wrong reasons. He was cleared of very public domestic violence charges, but the stigma can stick.

Never mind the fact he’s, almost every week, the Roosters player who does more charity work, clinics, hospital visits and community work than any other footballer at the club.

It’s why, when his contract was up last year, club chairman Nick Politis stepped in to back his case for a contract extension.

It is also why, the next time you see a player on the front page for doing the wrong thing, it’s worth remembering the number of great role models far outweigh the bad boys.

Originally published as Phil Rothfield: NRL troublemakers take headlines but good guys like Johnathan Thurston abound