Former NRLW star Sam Bremner remembers the exact moment Preston Campbell came and sat next to her on the sideline and chatted about footy at a school gala day.
It was a simple and natural gesture from the then Cronulla fullback but for Bremner, it’s a memory that has never been lost.
Now an NRL Ambassador, visiting schools and junior football clubs to create positive social change for the wider rugby league community, Bremner often finds herself thinking back to that moment.
“I specifically remember I was sitting on top of a footy ball watching a game and he came and sat on a footy and I'm not sure what we spoke about but I remember I just couldn't believe that an NRL player was just sitting on a footy with me watching the game,” Bremner told NRL.com.
“Little things like that are why I know I want to still be involved in rugby league because you watch it all on TV and you dream of playing the game but to really love the players, love what they have to say and believe in what they're telling you…that rapport in that instance of Preston and what that did for me, that's what really connects you to the game.
“It's that interpersonal connection when people go out of their way to just have a chat to a kid and talk about them. It's never usually about the NRL player. It's all about them.”
Brilliant Bremner gets four
Currently travelling through Queensland’s Sunshine Coast, visiting schools and communities in towns such as Caloundra, Caboolture and Nambour, Bremner hopes to have the same impact on the next generation of stars.
Since retiring in January last year, the former Jillaroos star has thrown herself into ambassador work as a way to stay connected to the game.
“I've done ambassador work on and off for about six years and now that I'm retired, I’m a lot more available to be an official NRL Ambassador,” Bremner said.
“It just frees up so much time when you're not playing, but also allows you an opportunity to give back to rugby league because it obviously served me for so long and now it's a good opportunity to reverse that role.
“Rugby league is such a large part of your life for so long and being an ambassador is such a great way to stay connected and to use your platform and your connection to rugby league to deliver all the key messages.”
Alongside fellow ambassadors Brad Takairangi, Ben Roberts, Zeb Taia, Bodene Thompson, Bremner has been delivering the 2024 key message ‘Simply Your Best’ to schools across the Sunshine Coast this week.
This year's theme aims to lead and inspire school students and aspiring NRL stars to be the best they can be, by providing pathways and opportunities to live positive, respectful and healthy lives.
“There's obviously a lot of a thought process that goes into it and the kids always seem really engaged and I think it's a really good mixture of knowledge and fun and keeping it entertaining for them,” she said.
“I think the best thing about all the people that do deliver it and the ambassadors and even the players that attend is it comes across very effortless.
“And no matter what it is that you want to teach them it seems like they listen a little bit extra when it's coming from rugby league players which is so awesome.
“And it’s not just the school or the junior league club you go to, it's the people when you're walking down the street, the whole community is so excited by the fact that you're there to visit for two days because they might not get that often.”