- Roosters star was playing final career game
Departing NRL star Chad Townsend has revealed why he almost missed his last footy match – as well as how he tested the patience of NSW Police.
Townsend, 34, turned out for the Roosters in the NSW Cup against the Western Suburbs Magpies, and was fortunate to be at Wentworth Park for kickoff on Sunday.
Speaking on Triple M Breakfast with Beau, Cat & Woodsy, the halfback recalled his unusual game-day preparation.
‘My assistant coach (Tate Barnes) picked me up and two of the other boys… and we were on our way into the city,’ Townsend said.
‘We were scheduled to arrive on time. And then all of a sudden, traffic just slowly starts building up.
‘And we’re like, what’s actually going on here? And then we get to this point where the roads are closed, and there’s police.
Departing NRL star Chad Townsend has revealed why he almost missed his last footy match – as well as how he tested the patience of NSW Police
Townsend was heading to Wentworth Park ahead of a NSW Cup game for the Tricolours, only for the anti-immigration rally in Sydney to change his plans (pictured, on a Lime Bike)
Despite the chaotic preparation, Townsend finished his footy career a winner, converting a late try as the Roosters outclassed the Magpies 50-18
‘Soon, we were running late. So we’re like, oh my god, what are we going to do?
Townsend and a couple of his Tricolours teammates had to think on their feet – and after spotting some discarded Lime bikes, they devised a quick plan.
‘We were literally like 1km from the ground, so we just started riding through the back streets of Sydney,’ he said.
Next their plans were turned upside down due to the staging of the anti-immigration rally, where thousands of people marched from Belmore Park to Victoria Park near the University of Sydney Quadrangle.
‘There were people everywhere,’ the premiership-winning No.7 added.
‘There’s Aussie flags, and I’ve literally got no idea what’s going on.
‘Then a police officer sees me, and I didn’t have a helmet on because the Lime bike didn’t have a helmet.
‘So he’s like, ‘mate, you can’t ride that bike without a helmet’.
‘So I hopped off the bike – in full Roosters gear – just hoping no one takes a photo.
‘We got through the people and jump back on the bikes, riding back streets, until we rocked up at the game.’
Despite the chaotic preparation, Townsend finished his footy career a winner, converting a late try as the Roosters outclassed the Magpies 50-18.
This article was originally published by a www.dailymail.co.uk . Read the Original article here. .