A group of junior rugby league players got more than they bargained for when they turned up for training on Thursday afternoon.
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As the Milton-Ulladulla Bulldog juniors got ready for training many would have noticed that a man wearing Cronulla Sharks NRL colours was at the ground.
They probably wanted to know who he was and what he was doing at the ground?
The man was President of Cronulla Sutherland Supporters Club (CSSC) Nate Eikenhout.
Nate had come down to the Shoalhaven to deliver a special gift for the junior league players.
The CSSC ended up with some excess Sharks designed shirts - a perfect size for junior footy players to wear.
The group members each year get a different shirt and Nate said a recent discussion took place about what to do with the excess shirts.
"We as a committee sat down and discussed our options and came up with the idea to donate these 60 plus shirts to a South Coast junior rugby league club that had been affected by the 2019/20 Summer bushfires," he said.
"A couple of us have ties to the South Coast with family in the area and one of our committee members is actually a fire fighting captain in our area and so he spent many days down that way.
"After a bit of research and reaching out to NSWRL we decided to donate these 60 plus shirts to the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs Junior Rugby League Club."
President of the Milton Ulladulla Bulldogs Junior Rugby League Club, Brett Williams, said the donation was greatly appreciated.
"It was good to see the smiles on the kids' faces," Brett said.
"We are very grateful to Nate and the CSSC.
"The kids loved the shirts and put them on straight away."
Brett said the junior league players after a tough recent period with COVID 19 and the bushfires were holding up strongly.
However, they are aching to play more games and so far after four rounds have only played twice.
With over around 340 players the junior Bulldogs are doing well.
"We are growing every year," Brett said.
The relationship between the Bulldogs and CSSC will no doubt continue into the future.
Nate said the CSSC members wanted to do their bit to give back to the community.
"Not just any community but one that we know would be massively appreciated for our efforts and gesture," he added.
