31/01/2015
Friday, January 23, 2015
A host of celebrities, Touch Football Australia sponsors, Australian Touch Football representatives and TFA staff and Board members took to the field before the second day of the 2015 Youth Trans Tasman Series to battle it out on the Sharks home ground, Remondis Stadium.
Former League star and NRL Ambassador, Ben Ross, former Bulldogs player and now Steeden Sales Manager, Luke Patten, as well as representatives from TFA sponsors, X-Blades, BLK and Steeden were a part of the day, as well as several Cronulla Sharks players who ‘coached’ the teams.
Australian representatives Jessica McCall, Scott Buckley, Leah Percy, Simon Lang and Patricia Michaelopoulos also took part in the game. Cronulla Sharks Mermaids, Lauren and Elyse were on the sidelines and also took to the field during the game, with Mermaids touchdowns resulting in four points as an incentive.
David Fifita, acting as one of the coaches, told the crowd at half-time that his team should focus on bringing the coaching staff more ice blocks in the second half, due to the warm conditions.
Nothing could separate the two teams at full-time, with game finishing at 11-all, with plenty of fun had by all.
Former Sharks player and the NRL Footy Show’s Beau Ryan also made an appearance and was a popular addition to the event, with many photo opportunities taking place with spectators and even the Australian and New Zealand teams in the lead up to the day two games.
Ryan said although he couldn’t take to the field he enjoyed the experience.
“It was pretty intense, I wish I could have been out there playing but it’s great to be back here around the guys. I’m really excited to watch Australia play New Zealand, it’s pretty full on, it’s a good day for Touch,” Ryan said on Saturday.
“I’ve got a lot of appreciation for Benji (Marshall) and the guys that used to play Touch, we used to go watch them play all the time in Port Macquarie and Coffs Harbour. I do appreciate how hard it is and how fit they are. Because I can’t play League anymore, who knows maybe I can play Touch (in the future).”
Sharks player, Fa’amanu Brown was one of the several Sharks players involved on the sidelines helping out the teams and said it was fun to be a part of the day.
“It was quite exciting, there a lot of celebrities here like Ben Ross, Beau Ryan and Luke Patten, he was a legend that I used to watch when I was a bit younger.”
Australian Women’s Open representative, Leah Percy, who was also at the Youth Trans Tasman helping out the Australian Women’s 20’s team, also enjoyed her time on the field.
“It was really good fun, it was a nice friendly game and it was a bit competitive too so it was good.”
