Rabbitohs back rower Kyle Turner can’t wait to get back to his roots and promote Rugby League in the bush when we take on the St George Illawarra Dragons for the Charity Shield in Mudgee.
In operation since 1982, the Charity Shield will be played at Glen Willow Regional Sports Stadium for the first time ever and country product Kyle Turner can’t wait to give back to the bush.
“Absolutely, it’s going to be a tough game against the Dragons, it always is, and playing back in a country town, it can’t get any better,” said Turner.
“Mudgee has a great field, it’s one of the best I’ve ever played on, so I’m really looking forward to playing here next year.”
Cracking the NRL is a challenge for most kids but it’s particularly hard for those who grow up in the country and are often over looked for the city slickers but Turner has been impressed with the NRL’s attempt to reinvigorate their market and promote the game in regional areas.
“It’s pretty tough for the kids out here it’s hard to get the recognition so it’s great that the NRL has taken the initiative to take the game out to the country to get more kids involved and get them motivated.”
Turner’s words were also reiterated by Rabbitohs Player Evaluation and List Manager Mark Elllison.
“I think anything new is a novelty, it’s good for Rugby League that we are getting out there and promoting the sport and our club,” said Ellison.
“The NRL are trying to get these things happening and we’re probably one of the pioneers with our trips to Perth and Cairns in the past. We want to get the game back in those areas so that they get firsthand experience of all the NRL players that they watch on television, it’s good for the game.”
The 2018 Charity Shield is a classic game of rugby league season and if you want to be a part of history you can with Rabbitohs exclusive Charity Shield packages.
If you’re thinking about coming to the Charity Shield? Explore the Mudgee travel package here: https://rabbitohstravel.com.au/event/charity-shield-mudgee/).