Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns set to spread the league gospel in Fiji

[DIEHARD]

Brad Fittler and Andrew Johns set to spread the league gospel in Fiji



Lote Tuqiri gives some friendly advice to Andrew Johns and Brad Fittler. Picture: Gregg Porteous Source: The Daily Telegraph

THE idea first sprang to mind last year as Brad Fittler strolled through Rushcutters Bay park.

"The AFL were holding a Pacific Islands match for school kids," Fittler said.

"They were all big, mobile kids too, so the AFL knew what they were doing as far as who they were targeting.

"I couldn't help but think that this was hardly a good thing for rugby league."

So Fittler picked up the phone to the NRL - which left the former Test star feeling that the search for a CEO was more important than the search for the next Lote Tuqiri.

Fittler spoke to the NRL about sending a team of rugby league folk to the Pacific Islands to promote the game and cultivate a lasting relationship. He didn't get the answer he was hoping for.

So without any financial backing from the NRL or ARL commission, Fittler picked up the phone again.

This time he got a result. His old Kangaroos teammate Andrew Johns joined the mission.

On November 28, Fittler and Johns will head to the same Fijian villages that rugby league idols Petero Civoniceva, Jarryd Hayne, Lote Tuqiri, Akuila Uate and Noa Nadruku call 'home'.

From the moment they touch down in Nadi, they plan to spread the "gospel".

"We'll hold specialised clinics, we've got schools to visit, footballs and jerseys to give out all, in the hope we can fast-track the next Petero or Lote Tuqiri," Fittler said.

"I went to the NRL around the time of the rugby world cup last year but they didn't think it was a good idea.

"That's fine, me and Joey feel like the game has given us so much so we'd like to think we can help identify talent so that the game prospers."

Recently, Johns received a reminder of how far rugby league needs to go to promote the game in the Pacific Islands.

"I was reading an article on Warriors centre Konrad Hurrell, who is a special talent, but only started playing rugby league two years ago after playing union all his life. He said that growing up in Tonga he had no idea what rugby league was," he said.

"I think it's extremely important we grow the game in these areas to help create a pathway for these Pacific Island kids - and this is the perfect start."

http://www.dailytelegraph.com.au/

[DIEHARD]

So proud of Brad and Andrew. If more players did this or had a vehicle to, it would create major waves.

Love to see former Kangaroos get behind this. All players and former players to be honest.

[TITAN PETE]

Brilliant to see 2 of our games Legends giving back to the game