WHO says there are no good guys left in rugby league?

Nathan Ross was one of a number of Knights players taking part in a surfing lesson with homeless and at-risk youths at Nobbys Beach on Wednesday when Lachlan Auld copped some rough treatment from a wave.

“I saw one of the young blokes get pushed onto a wave that might have been a little bit too big for him. He tried his best to stand up but got a little bit too far forward and crashed into the bank.

BUHRER SURE OF KNIGHTS’ SHOCK VALUE

“When I saw him nosedive I knew it didn’t look too good so I kind of waited there for a second and kept eyes on him. I could see he was groggy and the instructor was still a bit too far away so I got to him.

“I grabbed him and said ‘mate, are you all right?’ and he said ‘I’m dizzy, I’m dizzy’. So I told him just to stay relaxed and helped him upright, got his leg rope off so I was able to push the board away and just focus on him.

“By the time I got him into waist deep water one of the surf instructors was able to come in and offer some assistance and we got him into shore. He was a good kid, he said he just had a bit of a headache by the end of it.”

Ross’s ascension from journeyman winger to Knights cult hero is well known and the 28-year-old says acting as an inspiration for young people is something he cherishes.

“To be perfectly honest, apart from playing football, the best thing about the job is being able to be a role model to young people.

“It’s huge to show them that even if they’re in circumstances that aren’t quite the best, if you do set some goals — as little as they may be — and help boost your self-confidence and start ticking them off there is a pathway to get out of that cycle.

“You could see by the end of the session, just to see them grow within themselves and come out their shell was awesome.

“Some of them hadn’t surfed before, ever, and some of them were pretty scared to get in the water but by the end of it everyone was laughing and joking and high-fiving. It was just an awesome experience.”

Ross, Mickey Paea, Ken Sio, Cory Denniss, Jacob Gagan and Chanel Mata’utia were helping launch the Me Unlimited program, which is run by non-for-profit organisation Path 2 Change and is aimed at improving the mental health of homeless or at risk young people through physical activity.

“A lot of these young people don’t come from a background where they have a lot of exposure to people like the Knights” said Path 2 Change spokesperson Marisa Wilson.

“They did a wonderful job making them feel comfortable and looking after them in the surf and just chatting to them in general, it was a great experience for all of them.”

For more information on Me Unlimited visit meunltd.org.