NRL gun Braydon Trindall receives a warm welcome home from the Narrabri Shire | PHOTOS

Wee Waa boy Braydon Trindall recently enjoyed a happy homecoming when he returned to Wee Waa earlier this month.

The former Wee Waa Panthers junior is now forging a successful career in the NRL with the Cronulla Sharks and has been unable to return home to visit in recent times due to the COVID-19 pandemic as well as his playing and training commitments.

The 23-year-old currently lives in Caringbah, but he happily swapped the sea breeze for the country air in recent weeks and was greeted with a warm welcome from his hometown and also Narrabri, where he also has a strong connection.

He was a special guest at several community events, including the Wee Waa Panthers Junior Rugby League awards presentation and a sausage sizzle meet and greet at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre in Narrabri.

Another was the Wee Waa Local Aboriginal Lands Council’s Tracks event at Dangar Park on Wednesday, October 12, where many local rugby league fans enjoyed a game of touch footy with one of their heroes.

Braydon Trindall with Nate Dewson at the Wee Waa Panthers Junior Rugby League awards presentation. Nate was awarded the Jamie Lyon award for most valuable player. Braydon Trindall with Nate Dewson at the Wee Waa Panthers Junior Rugby League awards presentation. Nate was awarded the Jamie Lyon award for most valuable player.

Braydon Trindall with Jag Carroll at the Wee Waa Panthers Junior Rugby League awards presentation. Jag was the club's highest point-scorer in 2022. Braydon Trindall with Jag Carroll at the Wee Waa Panthers Junior Rugby League awards presentation. Jag was the club's highest point-scorer in 2022.

Braydon Trindall pictured with his nan Maureen Jackson at Dangar Park, Wee Waa. Braydon Trindall pictured with his nan Maureen Jackson at Dangar Park, Wee Waa.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Samantha Hamilton, Shirley Schwager, Tegan Copeland and Ann Conomos at Dangar Park, Wee Waa. Braydon Trindall pictured with Samantha Hamilton, Shirley Schwager, Tegan Copeland and Ann Conomos at Dangar Park, Wee Waa.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Phillip Vincent and Braylon Shillingsworth at Dangar Park, Wee Waa. Braydon Trindall pictured with Phillip Vincent and Braylon Shillingsworth at Dangar Park, Wee Waa.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Curtis Orcher, Rashard Green and Hezakai Cochrane at Dangar Park, Wee Waa. Braydon Trindall pictured with Curtis Orcher, Rashard Green and Hezakai Cochrane at Dangar Park, Wee Waa.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Joey Crutcher at Dangar Park, Wee Waa. Braydon Trindall pictured with Joey Crutcher at Dangar Park, Wee Waa.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Jag Carroll at Dangar Park, Wee Waa. Braydon Trindall pictured with Jag Carroll at Dangar Park, Wee Waa.

Braydon Trindall, right, pictured with cousins Kyle and Lachlan Trindall, celebrating Lachlan’s 21st birthday. Braydon Trindall, right, pictured with cousins Kyle and Lachlan Trindall, celebrating Lachlan’s 21st birthday.

Braydon Trindall with Tykeisha Doolan, Robert Doolan, Renee Ward, Cooper Mason, Mackenzie Goodwin, Leilani Smith, Rylee Toomey, Savannah Lawler, Makaylie Mason, Ellani French, Chris Booby, Callum Lawler, Levi French, Pipper French, Kayden Lamb, Angel Stanford, Austin Stanford, Valerie Chapman, Troydell Ward, Rydell Kelly and Jeffery Albert Summers at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri. All photos: Supplied Braydon Trindall with Tykeisha Doolan, Robert Doolan, Renee Ward, Cooper Mason, Mackenzie Goodwin, Leilani Smith, Rylee Toomey, Savannah Lawler, Makaylie Mason, Ellani French, Chris Booby, Callum Lawler, Levi French, Pipper French, Kayden Lamb, Angel Stanford, Austin Stanford, Valerie Chapman, Troydell Ward, Rydell Kelly and Jeffery Albert Summers at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri. All photos: Supplied

Braydon Trindall pictured with Ellani, Levi, Pipper and Sonny French and Callum Lawler at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri. Braydon Trindall pictured with Ellani, Levi, Pipper and Sonny French and Callum Lawler at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre family support worker Kirren Toomey and circle of support officer Deiann Kennedy at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri. Braydon Trindall pictured with Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre family support worker Kirren Toomey and circle of support officer Deiann Kennedy at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Tykeisha and Robert Doolan at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri. Braydon Trindall pictured with Tykeisha and Robert Doolan at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Chris Booby and Troydell Ward at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri. Braydon Trindall pictured with Chris Booby and Troydell Ward at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Rylee Toomey at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri. Braydon Trindall pictured with Rylee Toomey at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri.

Braydon Trindall pictured with Kayden Lamb at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri. Braydon Trindall pictured with Kayden Lamb at Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre, Narrabri.

Trindall told The Courier he enjoyed being home and running around with the local youngsters, many of whom remind him of himself.

“Tracks is a good little program that is getting back up and running after the COVID situation,” he said.

“They get the kids down there after school and play some games and have some fun.

“I thought while I’m back, I’d head down and play some touch footy with them and have a feed. It was a good time.

“The kids were excited. They love their footy and they just didn’t stop running around. I was getting pretty knocked up out there with them.

“One of the best things that I get out of being a rugby league player, being from a country town, is being able to give back to people where you come from. Especially for the young kids who are in a position I was once in, making sure they know there are pathways there to make it out of these small towns and go on to bigger things.

“It’s always good coming back to Wee Waa.

“I haven’t been back for a while because of the COVID situation, and footy is pretty full-on, so it’s hard to get back as much as I’d like to. But it’s really good being back seeing my brothers and little nephew and all of my relatives around town.”

Braydon’s mother Kerri Cochrane was especially happy to receive a visit from her son and told The Courier that she was proud of him.

“It was quite overwhelming for me as Braydon’s mum to see him back here sharing his success and motivating the children of today in the park where he once trained and played and where he very first started playing league as a junior,” she said.

Winanga-Li Aboriginal Child and Family Centre family support worker Kirren Toomey said it was a privilege to be visited by Trindall and that the young children enjoyed meeting him and playing a game of footy with him.

“The centre was delighted that while visiting home recently, Mr Trindall has very generously been getting out and about within the communities and Narrabri and Wee Waa,” Toomey added.

Trindall lived in Wee Waa until he was 11-years-old when he moved north to Caboolture in Queensland.

He played some of his junior footy for the Wee Waa Panthers and even represented Narrabri and District Junior Rugby League in the Smart Kenny Cup before relocating and joining the Caboolture Snakes.

He went on to make his NRL debut in July 2020 in a 36-26 win at Suncorp Stadium during the NRL’s Indigenous Round as he became the 540th player to represent the Cronulla Sharks.

Almost one full year later, Trindall celebrated his 22nd birthday with his maiden NRL try in a 20-12 win against New Zealand Warriors at Netstrata Jubilee Stadium in Sydney.

He has now played 38 games for the Sharks and has scored 104 points for the club, and he even proudly made his Indigenous All Stars debut in 2022.

Trindall told The Courier that he was living his dream and loving life as an NRL player.

“It’s unreal,” he said.

“When you’re young, you dream to do these things, and I’m living it now.”