The Manly Sea Eagles have paid an emotional visit to the Al-Noor Mosque less than two weeks after the Christchurch terror attack.
The Sea Eagles focus has been on interacting the community, rather than rugby league.
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On Thursday, events of the past fortnight have hit home for the NRL side, who learned first-hand the generosity of the Muslim community.
"I was just hoping to drive past the past the place but the fact I was able to visit and go inside, it was yeah…," an emotional Toa Sipley told Newshub.
The tragedy in Christchurch has hit close to home for the Kiwi-born Sea Eagles prop.
The response of New Zealand in the face of unthinkable horror has reminded Sipley just what his country stands for.
"It doesn't matter what religion, what culture, what race you come from, when you're a Kiwi, it's an expectation that you're family."
And the Rugby League family has come together for Christchurch in this time of despair with the game itself taking a back seat in a city Manly have been happy to make their second home in recent years.
The focus is instead on community and compassion.
"Sometimes actions are probably better than words so we've just tried to interact in the time that we're here," noted Manly coach Des Hasler.
On Saturday afternoon, the Sea Eagles and Warriors will represent the first major sporting event to take place in Christchurch since the terror attack, providing a further chance for reflection and recognition.
"It's sort of hard to deal with those things, the shock and awe of it all, but we're just going to be as respectful as we can in the situation," said Sea Eagles forward Curtis Sironen.
That respect was plain to see along Deans Ave on Thursday afternoon as the players watched on in silence as tributes continued to lay bare.
"It's just crazy to see the amount of support here, with the flowers, not just on this side but the other side behind me," Sipley said.
With community events taking right place up to the kickoff, rugby league continues to play its part in uniting a city crippled by grief.
Newshub.
