PlayNRL round ... tribute to juniors

It’s ‘PlayNRL round’ this weekend when the Titans take on the Knights, a time to celebrate what’s great about junior rugby league and pay tribute to the volunteers and the players throughout the country who are so important to the grass roots of the sport.

Fans can see the stalls and take part in activities of Gold Coast junior clubs around the stadium precinct on Sunday, leading up to the match (5.30pm kick-off).

On the field pre-match there will be a march-past, with each club having 10 representatives and their club mascot parading before the crowd – and a mascot race which will be fun.

When the Titans NRL side runs onto the field for the big clash, each will be accompanied by a junior player which will be a big thrill for the children selected by their clubs.

To celebrate, we are running PlayNRL competitions on our social networks where you can win tickets to the game. Go to our Facebook page for details.

The junior roots of the Titans players cover a large area which shows how vast, and how important, those who give up their time to encourage children to play the game are. Beyond the Gold Coast clubs we have played from central and far north Queensland, Sydney, northern NSW, far reaches of Queensland like Normanton and Cloncurry, and Maitland near Newcastle.

We also have the Titans ambassadors program where our contracted players are allocated to junior clubs in the region and spend time during the season at training and encouraging junior players and volunteers to do their best for their clubs.

If you are proud of your junior club, get to Sunday’s match and wear your club gear or colours and support the Titans players who were all, at some stage, starry-eyed young players just like the thousands who are playing now in the region.

Sunday’s team, and the players’ junior clubs, is:

Josh Hoffman (Mackay Norths Devils), Anthony Don (Grafton Ghosts), James Roberts (La Perouse Panthers), William Zillman (Rochedale), David Mead (Marist Bros Lismore), Aidan Sezer (East Hill Bulldogs/Beralla Bears), Daniel Mortimer (Orange CYMS), Luke Douglas (Yamba Dolphins/Lower Clarence Magpies), Beau Falloon (Coogee Wombats), Nate Myles (Southern Suburbs Cairns), Ryan James (Bilambil Jets), Dave Taylor (Blackwater Crushers), Greg Bird (West Maitland Wallaroos), Eddy Pettybourne (Mascot Jets), Matt White (Inverell Hawks), Ryan Simpkins (Currumbin Eagles/Tugun Seahawks), Kierran Moseley (Cloncurry Bulls).

The Titans also have an ambassador program where each contracted player is allocated to a junior club from Gold Coast or Group 18 and the players attend sessions during the season and encourage junior player development. Jamal Fogarty (Beaudesert), Ryan James (Bilambil), Kane Elgey (Tugun) and Jamie Dowling (Burleigh Heads) enjoy assisting the junior clubs they emerged from. Details below: