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HE HAS great hands, fast feet and a brilliant football brain.
Now you can add big heart to Josh Reynolds’ list of qualities.
The Canterbury and NSW five-eighth has become a hero to an eight-year-old boy by writing an old-fashioned, handwritten letter encouraging the youngster not to give up on his dream of playing rugby league because he is too small.
REYNOLDS CLEARED TO PLAY ORIGIN II
It started when little Tommy Norenbergs, the son of ABC Grandstand radio manager Craig Norenbergs, told his Dad he felt he was too small for football.
Norenbergs had no idea an innocent chat about his son’s predicament with Bulldogs great Steve Mortimer would lead to Tommy becoming pen pals with an Origin star.
After his discussions with the ABC man, Mortimer spoke with Reynolds who personally penned a letter to Josh, reassuring him his small stature wouldn’t hold him back.
“Like Steve (Mortimer), I am also a smaller NRL player than a lot of my Bulldogs and NSW State of Origin teammates,” Reynolds wrote.
“Don’t ever let any people say to you that you’re small because Steve, you and myself as an eight-year-old, we weren’t the biggest but we were fast and we were never scared of tacking big players because when you tackle them around the legs they fall down quickly.”
Norenbergs said Tommy, a passionate Canberra Raiders fan until receiving the correspondence from Reynolds, was ecstatic when he opened the letter.
“How good is Josh? Posted by himself, handwritten. It was totally their idea.
“Tommy loved it. You should have seen his little face light up. It was like Christmas in June.
“This letter will be pinned up on the wall.
“I hate saying it as a Raiders tragic but they (Canterbury) may have stolen my son from the Green Machine.”
Craig’s wife, Evonne, added: “This is just lovely. I don’t think the players realise what an impact they have when they do something so nice.
“Tommy says he feels like a giant now. But let’s remember it started with the nicest guy, Steve Mortimer.”
Canterbury chief executive Raelene Castle last night praised Reynolds’ off-field work.
“What we love about Josh is that he displays passion on the field and genuine interest for young aspiring or sick kids off the field,” Castle said.
“He recognises that the Bulldogs’ contribution in the community can make a significant difference.”
Reynolds isn’t the only Bulldogs player to write letter to fans and was a little embarrassed on Wednesday with all the accolades.
“More so for the fact that all the players do it, not just him,” a club spokesman said.
Friday night at a packed Brookvale Oval, Reynolds will again lead the Dogs into action.
Then, on Tuesday, Reynolds will again be chosen in the NSW side for Origin II at ANZ Stadium on June 18.
Now you can add big heart to Josh Reynolds’ list of qualities.
The Canterbury and NSW five-eighth has become a hero to an eight-year-old boy by writing an old-fashioned, handwritten letter encouraging the youngster not to give up on his dream of playing rugby league because he is too small.
REYNOLDS CLEARED TO PLAY ORIGIN II
Tommy Norenbergs has been sent a handwritten letter from Josh Reynolds after being bullied about being too small.Source: News Limited
It started when little Tommy Norenbergs, the son of ABC Grandstand radio manager Craig Norenbergs, told his Dad he felt he was too small for football.
Norenbergs had no idea an innocent chat about his son’s predicament with Bulldogs great Steve Mortimer would lead to Tommy becoming pen pals with an Origin star.
After his discussions with the ABC man, Mortimer spoke with Reynolds who personally penned a letter to Josh, reassuring him his small stature wouldn’t hold him back.
Tommy Norenbergs gets a letter from Josh Reynolds after being bullied about being too small.Source: News Limited
“Like Steve (Mortimer), I am also a smaller NRL player than a lot of my Bulldogs and NSW State of Origin teammates,” Reynolds wrote.
“Don’t ever let any people say to you that you’re small because Steve, you and myself as an eight-year-old, we weren’t the biggest but we were fast and we were never scared of tacking big players because when you tackle them around the legs they fall down quickly.”
Norenbergs said Tommy, a passionate Canberra Raiders fan until receiving the correspondence from Reynolds, was ecstatic when he opened the letter.
Josh Reynolds in action for NSW.Source: News Corp Australia
“How good is Josh? Posted by himself, handwritten. It was totally their idea.
“Tommy loved it. You should have seen his little face light up. It was like Christmas in June.
“This letter will be pinned up on the wall.
“I hate saying it as a Raiders tragic but they (Canterbury) may have stolen my son from the Green Machine.”
Craig’s wife, Evonne, added: “This is just lovely. I don’t think the players realise what an impact they have when they do something so nice.
“Tommy says he feels like a giant now. But let’s remember it started with the nicest guy, Steve Mortimer.”
Tommy Norenbergs at Drumoyne Oval.Source: News Limited
Canterbury chief executive Raelene Castle last night praised Reynolds’ off-field work.
“What we love about Josh is that he displays passion on the field and genuine interest for young aspiring or sick kids off the field,” Castle said.
“He recognises that the Bulldogs’ contribution in the community can make a significant difference.”
Reynolds isn’t the only Bulldogs player to write letter to fans and was a little embarrassed on Wednesday with all the accolades.
“More so for the fact that all the players do it, not just him,” a club spokesman said.
Friday night at a packed Brookvale Oval, Reynolds will again lead the Dogs into action.
Then, on Tuesday, Reynolds will again be chosen in the NSW side for Origin II at ANZ Stadium on June 18.
