Parramatta Eels forward Tim Mannah is amongst a host of male and female rugby league players hitting the road this week to visit more than 60 regional towns across Queensland and New South Wales, visiting school kids throughout the New England region with Wests Tigers forward Robbie Rochow and NRL Women’s player Corban McGregor.
The visits are part of the NRL’s annual ‘Road to Regions’ tour, providing an opportunity for players to meet some of their biggest fans throughout regional and rural parts of the country before the Premiership season commences. Road to Regions targets regional and remote areas of Australia with the specific objective to empower rugby league communities to ensure their success and to grow the game.
As part of the tour, the NRL will also deliver its State of Mind grassroots program, with more than 95 junior rugby league clubs having taken part in the program in 2018. These visits include educational programs at schools, visits to junior rugby league clubs, and participation in fundraising events.
As part of the NRL’s commitment to the heartlands of our game, these activities are geared toward improving the wellbeing of regional rugby league communities, especially those that are doing it tough, with three-quarters of these regions currently classed as drought-affected.
The program has been developed alongside expert health partners (Kids Helpline, headspace, Lifeline and Black Dog Institute) in the mental wellbeing space and is designed to increase mental health literacy and reduce the stigma around mental illness.
The NRL Road to Regions tours are proudly supported by the New South Wales and Queensland Governments.
Keep an eye on the hashtag #NRLCommunity for all content from the tour!
A list of the 2019 NRL Road to Regions locations and players attending locations is below:
Charters Towers (North QLD): 4-5 Feb
Coen Hess (Cowboys) and Brittany Breayley (NRLW)
Roma and Districts (Central QLD): 4-6 Feb
Frank Winterstein (Sea Eagles), Simaima Taufa (Roosters) and Ali Brigginshaw (NRLW)
Armidale (North West NSW): 4-6 Feb
Robbie Rochow (Tigers), Tim Mannah (Eels) and Corban McGregor (NRLW)
Griffith and Leeton (South West NSW): 4-6 Feb
Jordan Rapana (Raiders), Dale Finucane (Storm) and Ruan Sims (NRLW)
Malanda and Atherton (Far North QLD): 6-8 Feb
Kurt Capewell (Sharks), Aiden Guerra (Knights) and Tahlulah Tillett (NRLW)
Biloela and Monto (Central QLD): 6-8 Feb
Joe Ofahengaue (Broncos), Adam Doueihi (Rabbitohs) and Chelsea Baker (NRLW)
Grafton and Yamba (Northern NSW): 6-8 Feb
Fa’amanu Brown (Bulldogs), Anthony Don (Titans) and Isabelle Kelly (NRLW)
Coolah, Dunedoo and Wellington (Western NSW): 6-8 Feb
Euan Aitken (Dragons), Tim Grant (Panthers), Talesha Quinn (NRLW) and Ruan Sims (NRLW)
For more information on the 2019 NRL Road to Regions tour, visit www.nrl.com/community
