On Saturday the Tenterfield Tigers played the Texas Terriers at Rugby League Park but this game was a lot more than a round five clash between two teams in the Border Rivers Rugby League competition.
It was ‘Stapo Day’ and while the Tigers scored a good win over the Terriers, the focus of the day was all about raising funds for Nathan Stapleton who suffered a life change injury playing in a country rugby union game for Boorowa in April.
An ex NRL player, Stapleton hails originally from Deepwater; his partner Kate a local Tenterfield girl and the couple have a young son and are expecting their second child in July.
Thirty-two-year-old Stapleton had an outstanding career in the NRL. The winger played 61 games for Cronulla before transferring to the Roosters. He finished his rugby league career with a stint in the UK playing for the London Broncos.
As a result of the injury spinal cord injury, he received in that Rugby Union game, Stapleton faces life as a quadriplegic.
While a GoFundMe page was launched immediately after the incident and the Cronulla Sharks have auctioned jerseys with the proceeds going to the family last Saturday at Rugby League Park was ‘Stapo Day’.
The local community coming together to support the family and do some serious fundraising.
The Junior Tigers kicked off the day followed by a golden oldies game. Some familiar faces dusted off the cobwebs and took to the field. Fortunately, there were no injuries other than a few ‘hammies’ as the Oldies put on a show.
The League Tag ladies were next up, and it is fair to say they showed a bit more speed and dexterity than was displayed in the earlier game. For the record, the Tenterfield girls made it five from five with a 26-4 win.
In the main game honours went to the Tigers who continued their good recent form scoring a 16-2 win over the Terriers.
The afternoon and evening rolled on in the clubhouse with auctions, raffles and more as the community dug deep.
As Spin goes to print $100k has been raised for Nathan and his family with perhaps a little more still to come.
What an outstanding effort by the organising committee, the Tigers, Terriers and the Tenterfield community. Take a Bow. Good luck to the Stapleton family in the future.
