Australia and New Zealand’s National Rugby League (NRL) is adding a heartfelt new layer of purpose to this year’s highly anticipated Magic Round, launching the groundbreaking Kick for a Cause charity initiative that aims to raise $1 million to support children battling cancer across both nations.
Replacing the league’s former Try July fundraising program, the new campaign has secured major backing from insurance provider Youi, which has committed to donating directly for every successful kick scored during the May 15-17 event in Brisbane. For every completed conversion kick and penalty goal, Youi will contribute $1,000, while a larger $2,000 donation will be made for every field goal kicked across the three days of competition.
All funds generated through the initiative will be distributed to 11 leading pediatric cancer centers across Australia and New Zealand, in partnership with two respected non-profit organizations: the Sydney Children’s Hospitals Foundation and the Starship Foundation. These 11 institutions deliver specialized clinical treatment, fund pioneering medical research, and run critical support programs for young cancer patients and their families who face the daily challenges of the disease.
Australian Rugby League Commission Chairman Peter V’landys emphasized that the campaign brings the entire rugby league community together around a shared mission. “Every child fighting cancer deserves the very best care, comfort and hope – and rugby league is stepping up to help deliver it,” V’landys said. “At Magic Round, our game comes together in a powerful way. Every kick, every cheer and every dollar raised will make a real difference for kids and families doing it tough. We thank our partner, Youi, for their support of this important initiative and urge all fans travelling to Brisbane for Magic Round as well as those cheering on from home to get behind a very worthy cause by helping those who need it most.”
The official launch of the campaign took place earlier this week at Manly’s 4 Pines Park, where Manly Sea Eagles star brothers Jake, Tom and Ben Trbojevic led the event. The launch holds deep personal meaning for the trio, who formed a close bond with 12-year-old Beau Hewitt, a passionate Manly tragic who passed away last year from a rare form of cancer. The brothers first met Beau in 2024 through connections at the local Mona Vale Raiders junior club, and quickly grew close to the young fan, who had an extraordinary knowledge of the game that left a lasting impact.
Beau, who played for the Mona Vale Raiders, even once tipped the brothers off about an impending coaching ambush from then-Manly head coach Des Hasler ahead of a key match. Recalling their time with Beau, Jake Trbojevic said the young fan’s love for rugby league was unmatched. “He played for the Raiders, and lots of people reached out for us to come meet him in the hospital,” Jake said. “We went and met him in the hospital, and just seeing how much he loved rugby league was like no other, honestly. He loved it. Seeing how much he loved rugby league, you could honestly ring and have a chat with him. He’d even text you about game plans. He was well advanced for his years.”
Jake added that carrying on Beau’s legacy through the Kick for a Cause campaign is a point of pride for the brothers. “He was a great kid, we really enjoyed hanging out with him, and just seeing how it all went was horrible. It was horrible for his family, but seeing his legacy live on through things like this makes you proud. Getting to know Beau and seeing what that whole experience was like was horrible. I can only feel very sorry for families going through it, and I think cancer has a lot to answer for, especially when it’s kids. No person deserves cancer, but no kid does. So to see the NRL and Youi get behind this cause is remarkable, and it obviously makes us very proud.”
Off the campaign trail, Jake Trbojevic offered a lighthearted piece of advice for wingers across the league: bring the ball under the posts whenever possible to set up easier conversion kicks that will boost total fundraising. The veteran forward also showed off his kicking skills at the launch, but confirmed he is happy to let Manly’s regular goalkicker Jamal Fogarty remain the team’s first option.
For Tom Trbojevic, the superstar fullback will not take the field at Magic Round this year as he continues his recovery from a recurring hamstring injury. Still, he said his rehabilitation is progressing on schedule, and he remains optimistic about a return to action in roughly four weeks. “It’s going good. Obviously, I’m disappointed and it’s frustrating, but I’m back on the mend and just working hard to get back out there,” he said. “It’s probably hard to get a vibe right now, but it feels like I’m on schedule. I guess it’s hard to really tell.”