Meeting Players current and ex and other celebrities

[QWERTY]

Accidentally tripped Craig Wing at the SFS a few years back. Walked right in front of me just as I was taking another step. He just looked at me for a second and continued walking. Quite embarrassing, as I was surrounded by fellow roosters supporters

[mattyh]

In 2017, my son Cooper who was 10 at the time was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. As a result, he underwent extensive radiation and chemotherapy for over 12 months (he is now a 13 year old little turd in year 8 lol and has been in remission for almost 3 years).

He is my all-time hero and whenever things get tough at either work or in my personal life, I only need to think of what he went through and saw as a 10 yr old and realise things aren’t that bad.

Once his treatment was nearing its end in June 2018, he was granted one wish through the starlight foundation and without hesitation he requested to toss the coin at the NRL grand Final.
We were told that the chances were slim as the NRL has 100’s of the same request every year. Nonetheless Coops still requested it.

About 4 weeks later we were notified that Todd Greenburg wanted Coops to have the privilege.
Let’s just say that prelim against the bunnies was the most nervous game we have ever witnessed.

The family were put up in a penthouse in the city and driven in a limo to and from the game and the NRL absolutely rolled out the red carpet for my son. They gave us tickets for the entire family too.
Unfortunately, only one parent was able to accompany Coops tossing the coin (let’s just say Mum missed out lol).

Firstly Coops and myself were taken to greet both teams as they hopped off the bus under the stadium, Cooper was the first person to see them and shake their hands, in fact only the two of us, the lady from starlight, a cameraman and a security guard were allowed in the area.
We then directly followed the Roosters into the tunnel where coops was introduced to Gerard Sutton and Coop had to verify the official Grand Final coin (first year they have used an official made coin, other years they used a 20c coin).

After the coin toss, he was introduced to almost every player, official or celebrity the NRL could find. We both watched the pre match entertainment from the players enclosure and were told we could sit there for the entire game with the extended team however all Coops wanted to do was sit with our family and share the experience and the game with them. I seriously lost count of who we met or were introduced to.
The coolest thing is the players and celebs treated my son like he was the celebrity and a few pointed out that only 1 person every year in the world gets to do what he, which is pretty cool to think about it like that.

Hands down the coolest experience I will ever share with my son, we still can’t believe that when he asked to toss the coin he had no idea what team would be in the GF and we feel it was meant to be that the Chooks made it.

He also got to keep the coin which is now framed with his all-access pass.
Sorry it was long winded, but I wanted to add some context.

This is the youtube link of him tossing the coin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msz1DYjTsAc

amazing stuff, really hoping your boy is doing well. cancer is such a terrible thing. great story.

[Johnny Tobin]

Yeah, I have always been interested in the Sydney underworld scene of the 50s, 60, 70s and 80s. I was on ebay one night and I noticed a signed copy of Ned's first book. I wondered how the seller had procured the signature, so I messaged the seller. The seller turned out to be Ned's girlfriend, raising some cash. We got to talking. A few years earlier I had published a small book of poems about Ned's life. Naturally she wanted to see a copy, so I sent her one. She then showed it to Ned. By now I was shitting bricks. But he was happy enough with it, apart from one or two things, and then wanted copies for all his kids and grandkids. Naturally enough, I was happy to send them. It was then that he told Belinda that I could come for a visit if I wanted. I thought long and hard about it, but in the end decided it was a one-off opportunity to enter into a world that was completely foreign to my own, so I did it. Belinda made the arrangements and we met at Kingsford McDonald's. around the corner from Long Bay, and off I went. What an experience!

One of my best friends at school's dad was an "associate" of his. He brought him along to a footy game once when I was something like 14. I shook his hand and looked him in the eyes. Dark, dead eyes. Terrifying.

I have met plenty of crimes. including more famous ones. He was the only one that sent a chill through me.

[Vasco]

I met Bart Cummings quite a few times and dealt with him occasionally on the phone.

The most interesting part about him was the fact that he said so little.

[nayfo]

amazing stuff, really hoping your boy is doing well. cancer is such a terrible thing. great story.

He is doing amazing, crushing it daily.
Physically and mentally.
thanks for the kind words from yourself and the other Penners.

[Mickie Lane]

I met Bart Cummings quite a few times and dealt with him occasionally on the phone.

The most interesting part about him was the fact that he said so little.

Big funeral, St Marys Cathedral. He was very quiet that day.

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

One of my best friends at school's dad was an "associate" of his. He brought him along to a footy game once when I was something like 14. I shook his hand and looked him in the eyes. Dark, dead eyes. Terrifying.

I have met plenty of crimes. including more famous ones. He was the only one that sent a chill through me.

Haha. Unsettling!

I didn't really get that feeling from Neddy, apart from the icy stares. Mostly he just came across like an old style South Sydney crim.

[Insider]

Haha. Unsettling!

I didn't really get that feeling from Neddy, apart from the icy stares. Mostly he just came across like an old style South Sydney crim.

Cool story mate, except your dates are all wrong i think. Pretty sure he wasnt at the Bay when u say u met him. I ran an educational program for nearly 2 years in 09-10 and was told he had been moved several years earlier to another institution.

[Tom Verlaine's Ghost]

Cool story mate, except your dates are all wrong i think. Pretty sure he wasnt at the Bay when u say u met him. I ran an educational program for nearly 2 years in 09-10 and was told he had been moved several years earlier to another institution.

You are mistaken. He was in 5 Wing for years and years, including my visit in 2010. Been in the hospital at the Bay since around 2012.

[zac]

Cool story mate, except your dates are all wrong i think. Pretty sure he wasnt at the Bay when u say u met him. I ran an educational program for nearly 2 years in 09-10 and was told he had been moved several years earlier to another institution.

i'm looking at your nickname in a different light now lol

[Insider]

i'm looking at your nickname in a different light now lol

Ha Ha , very good mate, i have actually been waiting for someone to question my tag ! I was always going to respond that i was inside when i joined.

[Insider]

You are mistaken. He was in 5 Wing for years and years, including my visit in 2010. Been in the hospital at the Bay since around 2012.

Fair enough mate, I am no expert on Neddy Smith, but i had an interest mainly because i grew up around Balmain and some of my older relatives had a few lets say colourful associates andearlier i heard plenty of stories as a young fella.I ended up working in the financial industry and my company got a contract educating soon to be released cons and kids in juvie.Quite a few criminals with money stashed away i guess because my classes were extremely popular! Anyway, i asked about Ned and was told he had been moved to another jail a few years earlier.

[Insider]

In 2017, my son Cooper who was 10 at the time was diagnosed with a rare bone cancer. As a result, he underwent extensive radiation and chemotherapy for over 12 months (he is now a 13 year old little turd in year 8 lol and has been in remission for almost 3 years).

He is my all-time hero and whenever things get tough at either work or in my personal life, I only need to think of what he went through and saw as a 10 yr old and realise things aren’t that bad.

Once his treatment was nearing its end in June 2018, he was granted one wish through the starlight foundation and without hesitation he requested to toss the coin at the NRL grand Final.
We were told that the chances were slim as the NRL has 100’s of the same request every year. Nonetheless Coops still requested it.

About 4 weeks later we were notified that Todd Greenburg wanted Coops to have the privilege.
Let’s just say that prelim against the bunnies was the most nervous game we have ever witnessed.

The family were put up in a penthouse in the city and driven in a limo to and from the game and the NRL absolutely rolled out the red carpet for my son. They gave us tickets for the entire family too.
Unfortunately, only one parent was able to accompany Coops tossing the coin (let’s just say Mum missed out lol).

Firstly Coops and myself were taken to greet both teams as they hopped off the bus under the stadium, Cooper was the first person to see them and shake their hands, in fact only the two of us, the lady from starlight, a cameraman and a security guard were allowed in the area.
We then directly followed the Roosters into the tunnel where coops was introduced to Gerard Sutton and Coop had to verify the official Grand Final coin (first year they have used an official made coin, other years they used a 20c coin).

After the coin toss, he was introduced to almost every player, official or celebrity the NRL could find. We both watched the pre match entertainment from the players enclosure and were told we could sit there for the entire game with the extended team however all Coops wanted to do was sit with our family and share the experience and the game with them. I seriously lost count of who we met or were introduced to.
The coolest thing is the players and celebs treated my son like he was the celebrity and a few pointed out that only 1 person every year in the world gets to do what he, which is pretty cool to think about it like that.

Hands down the coolest experience I will ever share with my son, we still can’t believe that when he asked to toss the coin he had no idea what team would be in the GF and we feel it was meant to be that the Chooks made it.

He also got to keep the coin which is now framed with his all-access pass.
Sorry it was long winded, but I wanted to add some context.

This is the youtube link of him tossing the coin
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=msz1DYjTsAc

Awesome, wont go into details but had a similar experience where my daughter survived a brain tumour. I have met hundreds of players over the years and quite a few media celebrities and high profile business people, but watching those medical professionals go about their business really did ram home who the true heroes of society are. So ****ing dedicated and selfless, thats where most of my ex sponsorship dollars go these days.

[Jacks Fur Coat]

I met Bart Cummings quite a few times and dealt with him occasionally on the phone.

The most interesting part about him was the fact that he said so little.

Bart always had a bit of 'Jack' about him for me, including the economy with words. Maybe had the benefit of more education than Jack but when they spoke, you listened.

Both legends of Aussie sport and folklore.

[Tennessee Tornado]

Saw Rads today at Bunnings Rose Bay. He was super nice to the staff.

I bumped into him and Keary at Crust Pizza in Rose Bay after last years Tigers game. He was happy to chat about the game whilst waiting for the pizza. Keary not so much...