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THE Footy Show’s Darryl ‘the Big Marn’ Brohman brought his popular Small Talk segment to Tuncurry on Monday to speak with junior players from the Gloucester Magpies and the Forster Tuncurry Hawks.
The special visit to Harry Elliott Oval was in support of injured Hawks player, 15-year-old Curtis Landers who remains in Sydney’s Royal North Shore Hospital after suffering spinal injuries during a game in Port Macquarie on Saturday May 24.
The Small Talk segment involves Mr Brohman visiting junior clubs across the country and asking young players their thoughts on a variety of topics.
Mr Brohman said it was always enjoyable speaking with the kids.
“I love doing this it’s very rewarding. The things the kids come out with is priceless,” he said.
Mr Brohman said it was hoped that when the segment is aired on the Footy Show it will give more exposure to the Curtis Landers: Road to Recovery appeal which has been jointly set up by the Gloucester Magpies, the club Curtis first played with and the Forster Tuncurry Hawks, his current club.
“We’re here in recognition of Curtis and to help in any way that we can,” Mr Brohman said.
“The Footy Show found that this is a very worthy cause. We want to be able to raise awareness of Curtis’s predicament.
- Darryl 'the Big Marn' Brohman
“Hopefully he’ll get to see his footy mates on this segment on Thursday night and it will bring a smile to his face.”
Forster Tuncurry Hawks junior coaching mentor Warren Blissett said the Big Marn’s visit had been a great boost for the two club’s and Curtis’s appeal.
“It’s an opportunity for us to get on a national scale and on a public stage where we can showcase regional rugby league and raise awareness and support for Curtis’s appeal,” he said.
“I think it really shows two communities – Gloucester and Forster – coming together.”
With Curtis’s injury similar to that of recuperating Newcastle Knights player Alex McKinnon who is currently in the same hospital, there has been plenty of controversy surrounding injuries in NRL with some labelling the sport too dangerous and others suggesting the sport be banned altogether.
But Mr Brohman believes the two circumstances had simply been terrible accidents that could have occurred in any sport.
“My thing is accidents happen. Unfortunately accidents occur and people do get badly hurt,” he said.
“Everything is dangerous these days. Injuries that occur in NRL are a minute number.
“I want to say something positive, NRL is a great sport and we want kids to continue to enjoy playing it.”
At the end of every Small Talk segment, Nissan Australia donates $1000 to the club. Mr Blissett said in this circumstance, the two clubs decided beforehand that the money would go directly to the Curtis Landers: Road to Recovery appeal.
The Small Talk segment featuring Gloucester Magpies and Forster Tuncurry Hawks junior players will air on The Footy Show on Channel Nine at 8.40pm tomorrow (Thursday).