NRL stars Alofiana Khan-Pereira, Brian Kelly and Latrell Mitchell connect with the Armidale community. They talk to the Armidale Express about giving back.
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00:00Being here today, what does it mean to you to be part of these sort of communities?
00:04Yeah, it's a massive privilege, you know, giving back to the community.
00:09I was one of these kids, you know, being, like, all the players who I had, like JT and that, you know, just looking up to the players.
00:17Coming out here and seeing the smiles on these guys' faces, you know, it's heartwarming.
00:23And how have you found the feedback from the kids and that?
00:26Yeah, no, it's awesome. You know, they're just kids, you know, they just love me, I guess.
00:36Does it make you feel like a big kid again?
00:38Yeah, 100%. Yeah, I want to jump in some of the drills too.
00:42How have you found the cold weather here?
00:44Oh, I'm still not used to it, you know, I'm still freezing. Now the sun's as high as here. Yeah, it's still cold.
00:50And getting around all the other boys and that, how has that been?
00:54Yeah, awesome. Trevor Mitchell, he's here. And Brian Kelly, I was in the All-Stars team.
00:59So, you know, being one of the young boys here and having them look after me as well, so that's good.
01:04How important do you think it is to sort of bring it, particularly to the Indigenous community, bring yourselves and that sort of thing,
01:10pass that message on that you can actually make it from a small community?
01:14Yeah, you know, being Indigenous myself, you know, I guess it's a bit more easier to, you know, relate to that with other kids being Indigenous.
01:22I can talk to them a bit more easier about it. Nah, you know what I mean?
01:27Like, these kids need to stick to it because we've got some freaky kids, you know, freaky players.
01:32You've got some boys and girls. So, yeah, just keep at it and, you know, live your dream.
01:36Anything else you want to add?
01:38No.
01:39So, what's it like coming out here into the communities? How does it make you feel?
01:43Nah, yeah, real, it's a real heartwarming, like, fill-in-my-cup sort of vibe moment.
01:49To come out to the, especially to the country, more rural towns that don't get to see many NRL players,
01:55yeah, nah, it's a real special moment for myself, but I'm sure the kids get a good kick out of it as well.
01:59Yeah, yeah, what did they sort of give you, what sort of feedback did they give you about you being here?
02:04I'm sure they just, like, flocked to you.
02:06Yeah, nah, they just, like, they know exactly who you are and that, so, nah, I guess we're their little role models.
02:11And, yeah, nah, I remember I was in their shoes as a kid and I used to look up to NRL players,
02:16especially when the one or two used to come to our smaller towns and that, so, nah, it's a big thing to give back
02:22and, yeah, just showing that, not just through footy, but just in life in general, just to grow up to be just good people and that, so, yeah.
02:30Yeah, is there a specific message that you try to pass on to them?
02:33Yeah, I just, sort of, overall, just, I go, yeah, with footy, dream, believe, achieve, just,
02:41and no dream's too big or just make sure you believe in it and don't let no one else knock you down
02:47and go out there and do what needs to be done to achieve it, so, but, even that, just put yourself around the right crowd and, yeah, that'll take you a long way.
02:56And enjoy what you do, I suppose, is the other thing.
02:58Nah, definitely, I still, I still, I still pinch myself that I'm playing rugby league as a job and, yeah, it's, yeah, it's a dream come true.
03:07Yeah, anything else you want to add?
03:09Nah, just shout out to the Val and I'm all back home.
03:11Cool.
03:12So, what does it mean for you to come out to these communities?
03:15It's everything, pretty much.
03:17It's just about giving back to the kids and speaking about next generation coming up and just about having role models.
03:22I know, for me, having role models is a big thing and mentors and, you know, being able to have, I guess, people that steer you in the right direction
03:29and that's our job here today was just to have fun with the kids, but also, you know, get them to do a bit of exercise
03:36and talk about mental health and how important that is and looking after yourself and also, you know, just being out amongst the community.
03:43Yeah, being a country boy yourself, how important?
03:45Oh, just very, very important.
03:46I know, obviously, growing up in communities and in the country, so I know how hard it is.
03:50You've got to work twice as hard to get out of the country, you know, get in the big smoke and do whatever trade and, you know, you've got to work hard.
03:56So, just for me, it was just about, you know, knowing and never forgetting where I came from also
04:01and that's why I come back to Grassroots and give back to every community I go to.
04:04And the kids, they're all screaming.
04:06Yeah.
04:07How does that make you feel?
04:08That's the best.
04:09I love the kids and, you know, if I can make them smile and make them go home and a happier person, you know, my job's done.
04:15It's just like if you can make one little difference.
04:17A hundred percent.
04:18A hundred percent.
04:19It's all about that.
04:20That's all I've really got.
04:21Is there anything else you want to add?
04:22No.