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AS CHRIS Walker spoke to The Daily Telegraph yesterday, the home of older brother Ben disappeared.
“Yeah, it’s going under right now,” the Parramatta recruit revealed. "Ben called me only a couple of minutes ago from Ipswich - said he was walking out as the water lapped his veranda.
"Apparently he’s heading off to help mates sandbag their joints.
"My brother Shane is doing the same in Brisbane.
"So if we can just get approval for a more of us up there … "
In a stunning response to the devastating Queensland flood crisis, some 80 NRL stars - the us as Walker puts it - are offering themselves up for emergency relief efforts across the stricken state.
The Daily Telegraph can reveal players from Parramatta, Penrith, Wests Tigers and Canterbury are all planning to converge on the disaster zones of Ipswich, Toowoomba and Brisbane early next week.
Speaking last night, Eels CEO Paul Osborne said the unified posse was awaiting confirmation from Queensland authorities that (a) players could get into the affected areas; and (b) they could be accommodated for up to three days.“Like the rest of Australia we simply want to do whatever we can to help,” Osborne said. "Clean houses, remove rubbish, whatever. We want to show the people of Queensland that we’re here for them, that we care."The united relief effort was first born early Tuesday morning when Walker - who boasts family throughout the flooded Toowoomba and Ipswich regions - asked Osborne for a handful of signed jerseys to send north. Instead, the Eels boss got on the phone to chairman Roy Spagnolo. Then Canterbury rival Todd Greenberg. Another call each and the Panthers and Tigers were also on board.
“All of Australia is trying to work out how best to provide assistance and we’re no different,” Greenberg said. “Obviously we’ll be doing fundraisers but we also decided an appropriate response would be our physical presence.”
While the group will be guided by Queensland officials when it comes to the numbers of players who travel, Parramatta have already offered up their entire NRL squad.
Bulldogs back-rower David Stagg, who made his Origin debut for Queensland in 2006, will lead the Canterbury contingent while Maroons legend Petero Civoniceva is tipped to co-ordinate the Panthers.
“And to be honest it’s all a bit overwhelming.” Walker continued. "To think that 24 hours after chasing up four jerseys we’ve got four clubs involved, it’s incredible.
"I know Queenslanders will really appreciate us getting involved with the clean up, school visits, helping wherever we can.
“A few days back, the house my in-laws live in at Toowoomba was 20 metres from being swept away. That’s how bad it is up there … the lucky ones only have their houses flooded.”
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Well done to all that give time and effort to help those fellow Aussies in need.
Not a bad reality check for the young footy players.
I know the effect some time spent overseas volunteering a few years back still reminds me how blessed I am to live in Aus.
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It’s good to see the players get in there and get their hands dirty. Money always helps (which I thought the NRL were disgraceful in their financial donations) but the bums on the ground is where the real work gets done. Well done to all players, and all clubs involved!!! This is the community mentality that makes rugby league great.
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The Telegraph printed pics of the players involved on their back-page - & while Schirnack, Ben M-M, Lui, Fifita, Taniela etc are pictured (amongst 20 of our players) - Rowdy, Gaz, Flash & Woodsy aren’t included for some strange reason!
Also - the pictures used by the Telegraph are the new 2011 player head-shots - but the Tigers official web site is yet to update them!
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Who’s Flash?? Moltzen??
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Who’s Flash?? Moltzen??
Flanagan!
Moltz is pictured!
I also just realised Lote is another to be missing from the pics - and yet as a Queenslander with family still residing there I have no doubts he would be among the first to volunteer!
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Ahk never heard of him being called “Flash”. Is he quick or just a baseless nickname?
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Ahk never heard of him being called “Flash”. Is he quick or just a baseless nickname?
It is just alliteration - Flash Flanagan (repitition of the “Fla” sound)!
Nothing to do with his speed!
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‘Flanno’ might be more helpful
Woodsy?
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‘Flanno’ might be more helpful
Woodsy?
Aaron Woods!
Flash is what the Tigers players call him! I didn’t coin it!
