Wayne Bennett, Johnathan Thurston and Tom Dearden to speak at fundraising lunch

Three NRL legends have answered a call to arms to speak at a dinner to raise funds for local rugby league legend. Details here:

Like most sports, the rugby league community becomes family the longer one is involved in the game and particularly when times get tough.

That rugby league family has again wrapped its arms around one of its own doing it tough in well-known former Darling Downs rugby league player, coach and administrator Robert “Warmup” Walmsley.

Since his relocation to the Downs from his native northern New South Wales in the 1980s, Mr Walmsley became one of the most familiar faces of the local league community as a player and coach with TRL clubs the Goondiwindi Boars, Wattles Warriors, Pittsworth Danes and All Whites (Brothers) where he also steered the club as president.

MASTER AND APPRENTICE: Johnathan Thurston and Robert Walmsley outside Country Bank Stadium in Townsville. Picture: Peter Hardwick

The cheeky and skilful halfback also represented the Downs and South West as a Clydesdale and went on to play for Queensland Country in the days when Country would annually take on the mite of Brisbane.

However, having put his heart and soul into the game for more than 50 years, Mr Walmsley has had to curtail his involvement in recent years after the diagnosis of a serious condition that now requires an $80,000 operation.

Upon hearing this, the rugby league family clicked into gear and after a series of phone calls up and down the states of Queensland and New South Wales between his wide network of mates, the “We Wish Him Well” campaign was born.

NRL legend Johnathan Thurston was coached, lived with and mentored by Mr Walmsley during the then teenager’s time playing in Toowoomba with All Whites (Brothers) and attending St Mary’s College and the pair remain close today.

One phone call and JT was in.

Super coach Wayne Bennett

Cowboys star Tom Dearden will also speak at the lunch.

As word spread, supercoach and Clydesdale “old boy” Wayne Bennett took up the challenge as did Cowboys star Tom Dearden who also has family ties to Toowoomba and the Lockyer Valley.

“We Wish Him Well” chairman Shane Wilson said a lunch was soon organised at the Toowoomba Turf Club for Saturday, October 14, where the who’s who of local rugby league will gather with Thurston, Bennett and Dearden each of whom will speak at the function – for no charge.

“It will be a great afternoon and a lot of fun and to hear such legends speak of their time in the game will be unreal,” Mr Wilson said.

“We can’t say enough of how grateful we are to JT, Wayne and Tom for donating their time but also Hutchies (Hutchinson Builders) who immediately put their hand up to sponsor the event.”

However, Mr Wilson said attendance numbers were limited to 300 so he encouraged people to get in early.

For tickets and further information, go to: https://tickets.localtix.com.au/outlet/event/40164aaf-6e68-4039-8806-92cb2ddf46ba