THERE’S few, if any, rugby league fans from Orange who won’t be cheering on Daniel Mortimer’s Gold Coast Titans when the National Rugby League hits the western region for Penrith’s now annual trip west to Bathurst on Saturday, March 14.
Subscribe now for unlimited access.
$0/
(min cost $0)
or signup to continue reading
But Panthers prop Sam Anderson is hoping Thursday’s Community Carnival visit to Orange might sway a few more fans his way next month.
“Absolutely. We feel like we’ve got a strong fan base in Bathurst anyway,” the 23-year-old Kurri Kurri Bulldogs junior said.
“It’s just at the backdoor of the Blue Mountains, and we pride ourselves on putting on a show for the fans.”
The Panthers were in Orange as part of the 15th annual Community Carnival, and along with Anderson, boom youngster Dallin Watene-Zelezniak, Shaun Spence, Sam Scarlett, Chris Smith and Daniel Forster all made appearances at schools in Lithgow, Blayney, Bathurst, Cowra, Canowindra and Orange to promote healthy living.
Speaking at St Mary’s Catholic Primary School, Anderson said the mission in the bush was about “teaching kids to live a healthy life”.
“It’s important to be eating healthy and being active while they’re kids instead of sitting inside playing PlayStations ... we think they’re learning a lot, and enjoying it, which is a bonus,” he added.
Anderson was looking forward to returning to Group 10 territory in March for the season proper, adding the Panthers were hungry to reverse last season’s loss at Carrington Park.
“We want to repay the fans in Bathurst,” he said.
“Last year wasn’t the result we wanted but we’re confident we’ll get the job done."
