It would have been easy for Adam Reynolds to turn up, shake a few hands, pose for a photo or two, sign a handful of autographs and then jump on the plane home.
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Instead, the South Sydney Rabbitohs star went above and beyond to give inspirational teenager Jake Spurdle a memory to cherish.
The red-and-green tragic admitted he was speechless when he saw his favourite NRL club's captain standing on the other side of the front door at the family home on Saturday afternoon.
"It was something I didn't think could ever happen; he spent a few hours up here and gave me his boots and 2020 training gear," he said.
"I didn't know what to say."
There were no flights required, just a 500-kilometre road trip from Redfern to Port Macquarie.
Reynolds was the surprise special guest at last weekend's Play4Jake event for the 15-year-old who is battling osteosarcoma - a type of bone cancer that begins in the cells that form bones.
"As footy players, we're fortunate enough that we can have an impact on other people's lives," Reynolds said.
"If that means us going out of our way and spending a little bit of time with someone, it's not too hard for us to go and do that."
"As footy players, we're fortunate enough that we can have an impact on other people's lives."
- South Sydney Rabbitohs captain Adam Reynolds
After finishing a pre-season training session on Saturday morning, Reynolds jumped in the car and headed up the highway.
He punched the teenager's home address into his GPS where he would spend several hours.
"When I heard about what was going on with Jake I wanted to be involved," the Rabbitohs captain said.
"Souths Cares do a great job with things like this and it's always good to give back to the community and everyone else involved.
"He has a great passion for not only the club, but life in general and his willingness and determination to keep fighting is inspiring."
"If you know anything about South Sydney you know how much of a family it is."
- Nyky Napier-Reynolds
Mum Nyky Napier-Reynolds said they appreciated the time and effort it took for the NRL star to make the trip north.
"Pre-season is a big thing and they're right in the middle of it so we're hugely appreciative of everything Souths have done as well as Adam himself," she said.
"If you know anything about South Sydney you know how much of a family it is."
The club have continued to keep in touch with the family throughout the course of Jake's ordeal and have now provided them with some cherished memories.
"Jake wanted to get his message out there and get people to understand what it's like living with childhood cancer," Nyky said.
"It's about a legacy for him in his journey as well."
And now, the Rabbitohs have committed to running an online raffle and will follow the "Jake Spurdle story" through their online platform.
"The club have kept everybody in touch with what's happening with Jake; they're going to keep playing for Jake."
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