Rugby league legends Brad Fittler, Petero Civoniceva and Ben Hannant in Toowoomba for NRL Hogs tour

Toowoomba was graced by the presence of three rugby league icons this week as the NRL Hogs tours made its first trip to Queensland in its 12-year history. Check out who visited.

Petero Civoniceva, Ben Hannant and Brad Fittler were in Toowoomba for the NRL Hogs tour.

Rugby league royalty was in Toowoomba this week as the NRL Hogs tour crossed the border into Queensland for the first time in its 12-year history.

The initiative is run by Brad ‘Freddy’ Fittler who was joined by Queensland legends Petero Civoniceva and Ben Hannant as the trio visited local schools and rugby league clubs to give back to the community.

Toowoomba holds a special place in Hannant’s heart as he has fond memories of the city from his time as a Toowoomba Clydesdale.

“I started my senior football career here at the Toowoomba Clydesdales,” he said.

“They were the feeder club for the Brisbane Broncos and rugby league was pumping when I first was here and unfortunately it died off but it is great to see it was resurrected, it is like Jesus, it is back from the dead.

“It brings back great memories, as a young kid fresh out of high school, going to the Broncos and then travelling to Toowoomba to play against men, it was a huge step up for a young kid.

“I have a lot of memories, staying in the motels here, going out after the games and the full experience of going from a boy to a man, a lot of that happened here in Toowoomba.”

Brad Fittler on his motorbike in Toowoomba for the NRL Hogs tour.

Fittler was unfazed by entering enemy territory as the former New South Wales State of Origin coach gave out free footballs to children.

“It has been incredible, the response has been great, it is handy having these two blokes (Hannant and Civoniceva), they are very recognisable,” Fittler said.

“There is a little bit of fanfare up here for the Blues, I thought it would be totally maroon so that gives me a little bit of hope given my new role at the NRL.

“It is about getting anyone invested in our game and just seeing what the reception is when we go around trying to listen to some of the challenges but all in all, it has been really well received but you can tell they love their footy.”

Fittler has been doing this bike ride for 12 years due to his love of motorbikes and has been amazed by the growth in the program during that time.

“We started out raising money for the homeless and sleeping on grounds in swags and it has come a long way since then, a lot of hard yards,” he said.

Giving back to the community through these kinds of initiatives and programs has always been high on Hannant’s agenda, given he was never afforded those opportunities as a child.

“Unfortunately I was one of those kids where no footy players ever came to my school,” he said.

“I always wished for that, so when I became a football player I loved doing these tours and these trips, coming out to country areas and giving back and showing that they are not forgotten out here.

“We did clinics with the kids and to see their faces light up and see how much the enjoyed seeing the boys learning and getting that extra love and treatment they deserve.

“But the real thing we are trying to do is to plant a seed in the great game of rugby league, it teaches you all life skills not only to be a great football player, but it teaches you to be a great man or woman or eventually one day pass those skills onto the next generation.”

While Civoniceva hasn’t been riding a bike for the road trip, he has still loved being involved with the Hogs tour.

“I am looking forward to being here in Toowoomba and then we are on to Gympie after that and the tour then continues heading down south into Victoria,” he said.

“I think what Freddy and the boys have done over the past 12 years, it has been amazing and to now see them coming into Queensland, there was a bit of tough going as he crossed the border there.

“Ben and I and the Queensland police made sure that Freddy earned his way in but it was great to see him and the boys come across and it has been a fantastic reception so far.

“It was wonderful in Goondiwindi just to see the reception that we got, we had over 200 kids turn up for our event there.

“It was great, the boys put on a barbecue and we ran a skills session.”