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<\/a><\/p>\nNearly 200 children ranging from three to 18 years registered for last Sunday\u2019s HOGS event in Gunnedah, involving numerous activities, games, skills and drills.<\/p>\n
One game resembled pass the parcel, with a football used instead of a parcel.<\/p>\n
Healthy living was also promoted, with Foodbank supplying plenty of fruit.<\/p>\n
With Fittler and Inglis having had illustrious careers in men\u2019s rugby league while Meakes continues to carve out an illustrious career in women\u2019s rugby league, the trio also took the time to sign autographs and pose for photos.<\/p>\n
The event used to be run by the NSWRL and was called \u2018Hogs for the Homeless\u2019, which supported Father Chris Riley\u2019s Youth Off the Streets organisation.<\/p>\n
Fr Riley died last year at the age of 70, following many years of devotion to helping young people experiencing disadvantage.<\/p>\n
Fittler said Fr Riley \u201cmade a big impact\u201d on his life, and that the NRL had a School to Work program.<\/p>\n
\u201cTalking to kids, they leave school, they lose their friend, people go away,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt\u2019s a real challenging time so the league run a great program.<\/p>\n
\u201cThat\u2019s what we\u2019re trying to raise money for.\u201d<\/p>\n
Fittler said a distinct memory he had as a youngster involved former Parramatta, NSW and Australia rugby league heroes Steve Ella and Brett Kenny.<\/p>\n
\u201cI had a photo of Steve Ella in the newspaper, and Brett Kenny came to our school,\u201d Fittler recalled.<\/p>\n
\u201cI lived in that area at the time.<\/p>\n
\u201cI vividly remember everything about it.<\/p>\n
\u201cI chatted with Steve Ella and every time I see him now, we have this great rapport with each other.\u201d<\/p>\n
Meakes (also known as Yasmin Clydsdale) said she loved the community feel, and loved how everyone from three to 18 years of age was \u201cjust jumping in and having fun\u201d while there were also parents throwing a football around with their children before the clinic started.<\/p>\n
\u201cI love being in communities; it\u2019s one of my favourite things about being an NRLW player,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
As captain of the Newcastle Knights NRLW team, Meakes said she loved seeing girls wearing a Knights jersey.<\/p>\n
\u201cHopefully we\u2019re inspiring them to hopefully one day be an NRLW player,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
While NRLW players are yet to become full-time professionals, Meakes said \u201cthere\u2019s definitely a genuine pathway for girls at the moment, and it\u2019s going to happen one day, hopefully\u201d.<\/p>\n
\u201cAt the moment I feel like having to balance full-time work with NRLW has made me a more well-rounded person, but also it\u2019s definitely rewarding being able to give back to community while I\u2019m in the position I am,\u201d she said.<\/p>\n
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Yasmin Meakes hands the football to Isobella Newton during the HOGS National Tour. The Newcastle Knights NRLW captain, Meakes, said she loved seeing girls wearing a Knights jersey.<\/p>\n
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South Sydney Rabbitohs fan Adam Meikle with Greg Inglis during last Sunday\u2019s HOGS visit.<\/p>\n