NSW Blues State of Origin coach Brad Fittler and a handful of rugby league legends stopped in Young on Wednesday afternoon while touring regional NSW as part of the annual Hogs for Homeless tour.
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Riding their Harley Davidsons, the group had travelled from Orange on Wednesday morning, stopped in Carcoar for a sheep auction, and landed for lunch at Wilder's Bakery in Young before making their way to Tumut.
Since 2013, the initiative has raised $700,000 for Youths off the Streets, an organisation established by Father Chris Riley which helps young people turn their lives around, and also boosted junior rugby league registration numbers in regional areas.
"As long as the people keep turning out, we'll keep chatting footy and doing what we do," Brad Fittler said while in Young.
NSW Police and PCYC NSW have partnered with the Hogs for Homeless Tour in 2019.
David Stewart of the NSW Police Youth and Crime Prevention Command, which works closely with PCYC NSW, said it's been hugely valuable for police to tour with the Hogs.
"It's been really good for us working with them [league legends] because as we've gone around to the football clinics, kids have seen us working with them and they hold them in really high regard. So while we're playing sport with them they realise we're not so bad," Senior Constable David Stewart said.
"Often they only come across police in negative experiences, so it really helps us break down barriers that sometimes are there between youth and police.
"It's something we want to continue and develop into the future as well."
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Fittler added that it made sense to partner with NSW Police and PCYC NSW and expand the tour program.
"We have both areas covered now. We're trying to be proactive and prevent kids from needing help, but if someone does come out the other door Father Chris can help you."
The team was headed to Tumut to deliver a new bus to a disabled school, then they'll make their way to Wagga, then Queanbeyan and return home.
In total, the riders do about 4500kms.
With the NRL season looming, Fittler said he's looking forward to putting his "coaching hat" back on and preparing to go back-to-back with Blues in 2019.
"Now I'm just starting to watch all the Origin players and putting my coaches hat back on," he said.
"We played so spirited last year. Everywhere I go people have spoken to me about that, they really noticed."
