A GROUP of Perthville Public School students were treated to a rare encounter with rugby league royalty at the Brian Booth Recreation Ground when NRL star Nathan Hindmarsh flew in for a visit.
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But for one small group of kids in particular, Hindmarsh’s arrival was extra special.
The Parramatta, NSW and Australian second-rower was on hand to present the Villages United under 7s team with prizes most football fans can only dream about after they won a competition funded by Telstra in which they had to write 50 word or less on why they deserved to win.
Having only been established this season by their coach and president Phil Howe with the assistance of his wife Allison, the youngsters will now attend the NRL grand final on Sunday week as well as the NRL One Community Awards. They will present and interview the two sides at the grand final breakfast, and they will be special guests of The Footy Show next Thursday. But the biggest prize of all will see the youngsters presenting the NRL premiership rings to the winning side at the decider.
“I just couldn’t believe it when they told me, I thought it was a joke,” Howe said. “Having Nathan coming out to meet the kids and present the prize is just the icing on the cake.”
Hindmarsh presented Villages United with a $5,000 cheque from Telstra, posed for photos with the team and the rest of the students, who took part in drills and games with Country Rugby League staff. "It's going to be so much fun for these kids, it will just be awesome for them to go to the game and meet the stars and present the rings," Hindmarsh said.