Jarryd Hayne landed on our Facebook page to comment on a post that contained a video of him running out to Waminda Oval on Saturday for an exhibition game of rugby league.
Our post described the event as a “Jarryd Hayne back to Campbelltown day’’, which essentially it was.
Around 2000 people went through the gate at Waminda Oval, packing the ground on all four sides, and there’s no doubt they all came to see one man – Jarryd Hayne.
Put it this way: our Facebook video post got 40,000 views, but that’s just 10 percent of the number of followers Hayne’s got!
But back to the comment from the great man himself: Hayne said it was a community day to raise funds for the Campbelltown Saints.
The Saints, a team put together by the former Eels superstar, will participate in a Nines super league competition.
Hayne, who grew up in Minto and played rugby league for East Campbelltown Eagles, said he was grateful to the club for making their facilities available for the day.
“To the team at East Campbelltown Eagles, we couldn’t have done this event without you. Your heart for the community aligned with ours made this special event possible. Thank you for your generosity is allowing Campbelltown Saints to use everything in your facility to help with our mission,’’ he posted afterwards.
Daniel Draper, club chairman and life member, said all proceeds from the day would go to Campbelltown Saints.
“This turned out to be the biggest community rugby league event in the Campbelltown area,’’ he said.
“On behalf of the East Campbelltown Eagles RLFC, we would like to thank all the supporters who showed up to support the newly formed Campbelltown Saints,’’ he said.
Six shortened games of rugby league were played, including one involving Jarryd Hayne’s side of Campbelltown Saints.
Hayne said it was a “pleasure’’ to come back home to Campbelltown and hinted the Waminda event could happen on an annual basis.
“What a phenomenal day. Campbelltown really came out in force today,’’ he posted.
“It was a pleasure to come back home. It made me so happy seeing so many old boys from Minto and around Campbelltown,’’ he said.
“We want to do this every year as a way to bring people back together.’’