Titans take part in NRL Roads to Regions program

The Gold Coast Titans have partnered with the NRL to deliver the famous Roads to Regions program in the Northern Rivers.

With the program being postponed due to COVID-19 restrictions since 2020, the Titans are relieved to see the program return, with so many young students and players meeting their favourite Gold Coast Titans stars.

For Club legend Preston Campbell, heading down to the Northern Rivers to help with flood relief and delivering the Roads to Regions program was a heart-warming experience.

“People need help, like I said the first time I came down here it was so overwhelming, seeing so much devastation,” Campbell said.

“We can’t underestimate the importance of coming in, even if it’s just coming down to say hello and have a conversation.

“It is so heart-warming to see people getting together and it shows us just how capable we are working together as human beings,” he said.

The Roads to Regions program connects both current and former players, with children and young adults in regional areas to deliver programs based around health and wellbeing, inclusion and diversity and respect.

As part of the program, NRLW players spent a day in Casino, NSW visiting numerous schools and teaching children all about inclusion and teamwork.

For NRLW winger Hailee-Jay Maunsell, visiting regional areas is of importance to her.

“It’s great to come down to places like Casino, to show our support and deliver an important message, especially because the community has been through so much lately,” Hailee-Jay said.

Preston Campbell and Anthony Don spent the day in and around Lismore, visiting schools and flood relief centres to assist with boosting morale and helping where they could.

For Northern Rivers local Anthony Don, the visit was a great way to get back to where it all started for him.

“Coming from Grafton, it has been great to come back down to the places where I played my junior footy all over the Northern Rivers and give a smile to the kids in the local schools,” Don said.  

Titans winger Corey Thompson visited schools in Kyogle for a day, signing autographs and answering the students burning questions about life in Rugby League.

Many schools in the Northern Rivers are ‘hosting’ their neighbouring schools that were effected by the floods.

Throughout the program, Titans former and current players and NRL staff visited over ten schools and over 400 students aged between eight and fourteen years old.

Regional Manager in Participation and Game Development Wayde Kelly, said the program was a great return after the postponement due to COVID-19.

“This region has been through so much over the last few years,” Kelly said.

“From bushfires, to COVID-19 to the devastating floods.

“It has been great getting out to all of these schools, visiting the kids and seeing all of their smiling faces,” he said.