NRL community unites for Beanie for Brain Cancer Round

If there’s one thing the annual Beanies for Brain Cancer Round gives every NRL fan, it’s perspective.

At a time when wins and losses are paramount, the much-celebrated round in support of the Mark Hughes Foundation and its founder, who played 161 games for the Knights before being diagnosed with brain cancer in 2013, takes on a pivotal and poignant role as one of the most important dates on the rugby league calendar.

Today's official launch saw hundreds of rugby league luminaries, athletes, cancer survivors and more walk to the Sydney Opera House. A group of 45 trekkers will continue further, walking 150km to Newcastle ahead of Friday's game between the Knights and Titans in support and promotion of the round. 

“From wondering whether the idea of Beanies for Brain Cancer could work eight years ago to being here today is pretty amazing,” Hughes told NRL.com during the first leg of ‘The Big Three’ trek from NRL HQ to the Sydney Opera House.

“To see beanies everywhere is very inspiring for me. It puts the air in my tyres to make sure I put the spring in my step to find a cure for this thing.

“When I hear stories from people who are here today, I feel heartbroken that we couldn’t stop this for that family, but I know that we are doing our best to try and help people in the future.”

Just two days after he coached his Blues to a 44-12 victory in Perth, Hughes’ 2001 NSW Origin teammate Brad Fittler was among walkers who laced up their joggers on Tuesday for a walk he “wouldn’t miss”.

“No matter what’s on, I think the least we could do is show up and support,” Fittler told NRL.com.

“Mark was a great teammate, you can see why they speak so highly of him at Newcastle. He was great to be around, trained hard and did what he could to make a difference on the field.

“The same characteristics show through people as players and when Mark was faced with the biggest challenge of his life, his first instinct was to help.”

“We always talk about being that player that everyone wants to play with and that was him.”

Among the many rugby league faces coming out to walk in support of the sixth iteration of the NRL’s Beanies for Brain Cancer Round was Sharks halfback Nicho Hynes, who himself only touched down in Sydney from Perth yesterday.

Hynes was joined by NRLW stars Raecene and Page McGregor, Dragons prop Aaron Woods and 2005 Wests Tigers premiership winner Dene Halatau among others.

“This year is my first time walking. I think it’s a great cause so I wanted to get involved a bit more,” Hynes told NRL.com.

“I remember watching Mark when I was younger in the famous Knights premiership win with Joey and Matty Johns and he was a great player but more importantly he’s a great guy too.”

“I’m excited to play this weekend and throw our beanies up into the crowd; hopefully that encourages everyone to get around the cause.”

The NRL is encouraging fans to buy a beanie or make a donation by visiting the Mark Hughes Foundation to help raise funds towards researching treatments and cures for brain cancer. 

Sportsbet will also be supporting the round again this year by donating $1,000 per try scored this weekend. 2022 marks the sixth year that Sportsbet have supported the Mark Hughes Foundation, having donated over $350,000 to date.