NRL star Reed Mahoney visited his junior club, the Beerwah Bulldogs on May 6, meeting with local footy fans after his Magic Round game at Suncorp Stadium the previous evening.
Although the Canterbury co-captain hasn’t been able to visit the local kennel for a few years, he was keen to come and say g’day to fans and players dreaming of making it in the big league.
“If I was a young fella and an NRL player came down to my local club, I’d be super excited, so there’s opportunities to come here to unite and inspire the next generation as an NRL player,” he said.
“I’m here to show kids that it doesn’t matter where you’re from, if you put your mind to it, you can achieve anything.”
Reed reflected on his five and a half years at the Parramatta Eels to help him develop and take on the leadership role he has at the Canterbury Bulldogs as co-captain. “It was a big challenge for me becoming a leader, but it’s something I’ve strived for, and I enjoy the pressure of it all and everything that comes with it, I wouldn’t change anything,” he said.
“I’m still trying to manage how to be a co-captain at the Bulldogs and also be Reed as well, so I got to somehow find the balance.
“I’m only young in my career so it’s good to be a captain… I gained a lot of experience at the Parramatta Eels and I feel like I bring some experience to the team, so it’s been great.”
During his visit, Reed signed fans’ jerseys, shoes, socks and more, and got to chat to junior Beerwah Bulldogs players and take pictures with them.
