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Article from Rothfield in the Telecrap:
THEY’RE the photos that make you fall back in love with rugby league.
Suddenly you forget about last week’s cocaine scandal, players breaking curfews, forward passes and the ridiculous mid-season transfers.
The look on the beautiful little boy’s face on the fence of Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon says much about our game and our heroes.
The indigenous face paint. The little handshake. The beanie. The cuddle. Mum’s moment of pride and the fan in the background with the big smile.
Take a bow, Dylan Napa.
It’s not a set up. There’s nothing PR about it and no marketing department within cooee. Just raw, striking emotion on what’s now become the face of the indigenous round.
Not even a Johnathan Thurston moment of magic or Billy Slater opening up a defence does as much for the game.
We don’t even know the boy’s name. The Roosters don’t either.
He’s just another random fan who has gone to the footy with his mum. To watch his team pump the Parramatta Eels. And then meet one of the players he worships and take home his jersey.
It is, as they say, a picture that tells a thousand words.
It is also proof that the vast majority of footballers in the NRL are very decent young men.
For every Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Damian Keogh, there are hundreds more like Dylan Napa. The hospital visits, schools, coaching clinics and store appearances.
Typically, Napa didn’t want to make any big fuss about it when we spoke on Monday. He sees it as just a rewarding part of his job and that he can make a difference. But our phone call was short and sharp.
“It’s not the first time our boys have done it,” Napa explains. “And it’s not something we do for the cameras.
“I was just trying to find a little Aboriginal fella to give my jersey to and he was standing right on the fence. He found me more than I found him.
“Seriously, I love the photos but I don’t feel too comfortable talking about it".
Teammate Connor Watson gave his jersey away too but there wasn’t a camera to record it. And that’s the point.
THEY’RE the photos that make you fall back in love with rugby league.
Suddenly you forget about last week’s cocaine scandal, players breaking curfews, forward passes and the ridiculous mid-season transfers.
The look on the beautiful little boy’s face on the fence of Allianz Stadium on Sunday afternoon says much about our game and our heroes.
The indigenous face paint. The little handshake. The beanie. The cuddle. Mum’s moment of pride and the fan in the background with the big smile.
Take a bow, Dylan Napa.
It’s not a set up. There’s nothing PR about it and no marketing department within cooee. Just raw, striking emotion on what’s now become the face of the indigenous round.
Not even a Johnathan Thurston moment of magic or Billy Slater opening up a defence does as much for the game.
We don’t even know the boy’s name. The Roosters don’t either.
He’s just another random fan who has gone to the footy with his mum. To watch his team pump the Parramatta Eels. And then meet one of the players he worships and take home his jersey.
It is, as they say, a picture that tells a thousand words.
It is also proof that the vast majority of footballers in the NRL are very decent young men.
For every Shaun Kenny-Dowall, Jesse Bromwich, Kevin Proctor and Damian Keogh, there are hundreds more like Dylan Napa. The hospital visits, schools, coaching clinics and store appearances.
Typically, Napa didn’t want to make any big fuss about it when we spoke on Monday. He sees it as just a rewarding part of his job and that he can make a difference. But our phone call was short and sharp.
“It’s not the first time our boys have done it,” Napa explains. “And it’s not something we do for the cameras.
“I was just trying to find a little Aboriginal fella to give my jersey to and he was standing right on the fence. He found me more than I found him.
“Seriously, I love the photos but I don’t feel too comfortable talking about it".
Teammate Connor Watson gave his jersey away too but there wasn’t a camera to record it. And that’s the point.
.
. Onya Naps!
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