There are plenty of feel-good stories already emerging from the off-season, with clubs taking the opportunity to give back to their respective communities before the intensity of pre-season training really picks up.
Read on to see some of the great work clubs and players have been doing off the park.
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Canterbury Bulldogs
The Bulldogs, who endured a nightmare beginning to their off-season with their infamous Mad Monday, have been making amends.
One of the club’s greatest ever players, Terry Lamb, joined skipper Josh Jackson to visit a fan who’s doing it tough.
Trevor McCarren, the grandson of Canterbury’s first ever captain Jack Morrison, has been hospitalised with a major cardiac issue.
Lamb and Jackson (who is McCarren’s favourite player) surprised the family turning up to his hospital bed to spend time with him.
A letter sent to the Bulldogs from the McCarrens after the visit, showed just what it meant to the family.
“On behalf of Trevor, and our family, I want to say a big thank you for making yesterday afternoon happen,” it read.
“It is a memory our family with cherish, on a day that Trev was probably feeling at his lowest!”
Parramatta Eels
A group of Eels players and staff have attended the 18th birthday of one of their favourite fans.
Kieran has been embraced by the club over the past few seasons, assisting where he can. He has autism but the players are in awe of his incredible memory when it comes to statistics.
“The boys love Kieran, just ask anyone. He is pretty cluey and has a lot of ideas when it comes to our statistics, our good and bad, because he loves to remind us of the bad ones as well,” said Tim Mannah, one of the party attendees.
“He knows all our bad stats as well so a few of the boys have been offended with some of the stats he has pulled out, but it’s a credit to him and how smart he is and how much he knows.”
Kane Evans said he didn’t hesitate when the idea was first floated.
“As soon as we were asked who wants to go, a few boys put their hands up and there was no hesitation to be there for his 18th birthday,” he said.
“He is a good bloke so I was just happy I could be there to show some support and love.”
Kieran’s mum Lyndall couldn’t thank the Eels enough.
“It was a secret we have kept under wraps for quite some weeks and we were hoping it would all come together and it has today and he is thrilled,” she said.
“For Kieran, it would mean the world for them to be here today. He just thinks the world of the boys that he has been working with. They respond so well to him and he just adores them.”
Joining Tim Mannah and Kane Evans were Tepai Moeroa, Bevan French, Reed Mahoney and Daniel Alvaro.
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Canberra Raiders
Sia Soliola is well known for being one of the game’s gentlemen.
His selfless deeds off the field are countless, and he’s gone out of his way to support another great cause this week.
The Raiders enforcer lopped off his trademark long locks for the first time in almost three years to raise funds for Kulture Break, a charity youth services provider that engages young people struggling to cope.
Incredibly, Soliola raised more than $50,000 with his efforts.
“I believe that Kulture Break provide a great platform for those kids that aren’t really drawn the best cards in life sometimes,” Soliola said.
Kulture Break’s inclusion ambassador James O’Hehir, who was “bullied tremendously” because he has high functioning autism, said it was a measure of the man to go out of his way to help the Canberra-based organisation.
“I commend Sia’s efforts, and I commend Sia’s choice to shave his head for all disadvantaged kids like me. That is truly what a man is about.”
Manly Warringah Sea Eagles
Joel Thompson was recently a part of a keynote address at an indigenous mental health event.
The Sea Eagles back-rower — who started the mental health initiative The Mindset Project — shared his personal battle with bipolar in front of 350 guests.
“It was the first time I shared publicly my battle with bipolar and the support I’ve had from (my) wife, family and friends over the years,’’ Thompson said.
“I decided to speak from the heart after finding out on (the) Sunday that I lost a family friend to suicide. It has been two friends to suicide in the last three weeks.
“It breaks my heart that we have people who continue to suffer in silence.
“No more shame about it, we must own our own mental health and stop losing lives.”
Cronulla Sharks
Josh Dugan will talk about his own experiences with bullying when he joins Make Bullying History Foundation co-founder Brett Murray at a forum addressing bullying in schools.
The free forum — held in partnership with Sharks Have Heart — aims to eradicate bullying.
It takes place from 6-7pm on Tuesday, November 27, in the Aqua Room of the Sharks Leagues Club.
Those who would like to attend are asked to RSVP before November 26. To book click here.
Wests Tigers
Russell Packer and Chris Lawrence enthusiastically took on the ‘Lemon Face Challenge’ recently to raise awareness for childhood brain cancer.
The video challenge was issued by Annabelle Potts, whose face was paralysed by the childhood cancer diffuse intrinsic pontine glioma (DIPG).
DIPG is fatal 100% of the time, with an average survival time of just nine months.
The Sunday Telegraph followed Annabelle’s family’s attempts to find a cure, and the Wiggles sucked on a lemon for the cause, before Packer and Lawrence jumped on board.
“We’re proud to be able to help Annabelle out with her lemon face challenge and raise awareness for DIPG,” Lawrence told The Sunday Telegraph earlier this month.
“I look forward to seeing plenty of lemon faces over the coming weeks!”
South Sydney Rabbitohs
Braidon Burns gave up quality time with the family to make a difference in the small western NSW town of Wellington just prior to pre-season kicking off.
The 22-year-old was only darting back to Dubbo for a quick visit with relatives when an opportunity presented itself to speak with indigenous elders and kids in the nearby town.
“Originally I came home to see my family in Dubbo, but my Aunty organised for me to go over to Wello and have a chat with some kids and some the elders there.” Burns told the Rabbitohs website.
“It was about their health, knowing which foods they should eat, how to brush their teeth and eating properly.
“Trying to encourage different people from the community to get their health checks and make sure they’re staying on top of it all.”
Penrith Panthers
Viliame Kikau went back to Fiji for three weeks in the off-season and while he was there he made a huge difference for young footballers.
His old school coach asked for supplies for the academy he runs, and Kikau more than answered the call, lugging boxes and boxes of boots and other gear to the island nation.
Kikau explained he asked the Panthers for help and the club didn’t hesitate generously providing most of the apparel.
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