He may not be a household name yet, but Cronulla lower grader Jordan Drew received a rock star’s reception at Henschke Primary School.
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Drew and teammate Anthony Moraitis were special guests on Monday as part of NRL Tackle Bullying campaign.
When Jordan Drew made the switch to Cronulla searching for more opportunities to make it into the NRL, expectations weren’t high the Sharks would be sitting atop the NRL ladder.
However, 12 rounds into the season heading into a bye that is where they are.
And while he’s yet to get a chance to work his way into the team led by Paul Gallen, Drew believes the success in the NRL is having a good flow-on effect to all parts of the club.
With the under 20 team as well as NSW Cup feeder outfit Newtown Jets also near the top of their respective competitions, success has been overwhelming.
“We are reflecting off the Sharks as well,” Drew said.
“There is a good culture there (at Newtown) and we are having a successful season as well.”
After three seasons as part of the Brisbane Broncos Toyota Cup team, Drew decided to chance his arm at another club.
While it is a big change from his country Queensland upbringing, Drew has been relishing the move to Sydney.
“I’m lovely it and Cronulla itself,” he said.
“It is a great little beach town which very relaxing.”
In Wagga on Monday, Drew and Moraitis were the star attractions for hundreds of excited school kids as they conveyed an important message.
The Sharks players spent two days in the Rivierina as part of the NRL’s campaign.
After stops at South Wagga Public, Lake Albert Public and Henschke Primary Schools in Wagga, they went out to Sharks territory – Lake Cargelligo.
After a training session at the home of the Tullibigeal-Lakes United Sharks, the tour took in sessions at Tullibigeal Central, St Francis Xavier and Lake Cargelligo Central Schools before a stop Beelbangera Public School on the way to flying out of Griffith.
Excitement bubbled among the students and NRL game development manager James Smart was pleased to see the interest the sport could generate to help kids deal with bullying.
“It is awesome to see how excited the kids are to see NRL players here and on the back of a very important message as well,” Smart said.
“It makes it all the more easier seeing the Sharkies are going really well this season.
“It is good that we can come in and assist the schools and programs they already have running.”