TIM Brasher hopes country rugby league players take one message from the NSW state government’s Knock-On Effect campaign which aims to lessen the road toll.
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The campaign kicked off in May last year, focusing on the ripple effects of road trauma on country communities.
It also encourages country drivers to make smarter and safer choices behind the wheel.
“Sometimes footballers think we’re invincible, but we’re not,” Brasher said.
“If there is one message from this campaign, it’s look after your mates, look after yourself and make good decisions – that is basically it.”
The former Balmain Tigers star represented the Blues on 21 occasions between 1992 and 2000.
Brasher, along with State of Origin greats Laurie Daley, Steve Menzies and Josh Perry were in Port Macquarie on Friday night.
They wanted to share the message to rugby league players at grassroots level that what they did off the field can sometimes indicate what they’re likely to do on the field.
Self-regulation was a term that came up as the quartet passed on their knowledge of football and, in particular, road safety.
Players had to take responsibility whether that was on or off the field, bush footy or the National Rugby League.
“The bosses can’t be out there all the time,” Brasher said.
“When you’re out there on the field, there’s not usually a coach out there with you so you have to do it yourself.”
When you’re out there on the field, there’s not usually a coach out there with you so you have to do it yourself.
- Former NSW Origin star Tim Brasher
He mentioned culture – from business level to rugby league – and how everything started from the top and filtered down.
Brasher drew parallels between a simple training training drill where a player would take a short-cut and not run around something simple such as a witches hat.
He said that could be similar on the road where players could get behind the wheel despite being under the influence.
“It’s sliding doors, isn’t it – it works both ways,” he said.
“It’s all about looking after your mate and we’ve all been there before, doing silly things with our life.
It’s what we want to do – stop people learning the hard way.
- Tim Brasher
“We’ve got to hope that we can pass that on and hope these guys can listen and learn from our mistakes.
“It’s what we want to do – stop people learning the hard way.”
The former Balmain Tigers great said many people in the community – not just rugby league players – didn’t understand the consequences of their actions.
“It’s that knock-on effect,” he said.
“It is not just about the person themselves or the immediate family, it’s the whole community.”
