More than 2500 people were at Rotorua's Puketawhero Park on Saturday for the League Legends XIII match in support of men's mental health. Photo: Supplied
More than 2500 people were at Rotorua's Puketawhero Park on Saturday for the League Legends XIII match in support of men's mental health.
The League Legends, comprising ex-NRL and Kiwi representative players, played the Bay of Plenty Lakers.
It was organised by former Warriors and Kiwis player Sione Faumuina with support from WERA Aotearoa Charitable Trust.
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"Putting on this game, we're able to connect with one of the hardest demographics to connect with in Aotearoa right now, and that's Maori and Pacific Island men aged 34 to 50," Faumuina said prior to the match.
"Why I'm so passionate about it is because when it comes to men's mental health and wellbeing, I think us as former rugby league players, we've got a really good opportunity to share a message and to make an impact."
The League Legends XIII players have still got it - beating the Bay of Plenty Lakers 48-14.
"We were very rusty at the start, but once the joints loosened up, the body kicked in as if I as 23," Faumuina said.
"It was a great game - but I'm very grateful that the Lakers took it a bit easy on us!
More than 2500 people were at Rotorua's Puketawhero Park on Saturday for the League Legends XIII match in support of men's mental health. Photo: Supplied
"At the end of the day it wasn't about who won; it was about raising awareness about men's mental health and wellbeing.
"Today is about celebrating our men, our brothers, grandfathers, friends… we want everyone to know, especially our men… if you are going through troubles, all you've got to do is to ask for help - please just ask."
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In the days before the main event, the players were welcomed onto Te Takira Marae, and dropped into smoko at a number of local manufacturing businesses to share personal stories about their own challenges with mental health.
The chief executive of the WERA Aotearoa Charitable Trust, Israel Hawkins, said in order to make some gains in improving men's mental health and wellbeing, "we have to try something different".
"League Legends is that something different," he said.
"Our men are particularly hard to reach when it comes to identifying concerns and providing support," he said.
"The stories these guys have shared in the past few days have reached the hearts and minds of men - and women - across the rohe (area)."