Shaw and Partners Financial Services is thrilled to be partnering with long-term partners and friends, the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and Gotcha4Life Foundation, to raise awareness for the important issue of mental fitness at the inaugural Gotcha4Life Cup next Thursday, 28 July.

Some of rugby league’s biggest names are right behind the Round 20 match between the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles and the Sydney Roosters, who will play for the Gotcha4Life Cup to help raise funds and awareness of building mental fitness. Shaw and Partners will be donating $100,000 to Gotcha4Life in honour of this match.

“We’re proud to be partnering with the Sea Eagles and Gotcha4Life on this important initiative, and to do what we can to help educate and empower Australians on taking positive action towards their own mental fitness”, said Earl Evans, Co-CEO of Shaw and Partners.

Gotcha4Life is a not-for-profit foundation with a goal of zero suicides, taking action by delivering mental fitness programs that engage, educate and empower schools, sporting clubs, workplaces and community groups.

The Gotcha4Life logo will be displayed below the Shaw and Partners logo on the Manly Sea Eagles special ‘Everyone in League’ jerseys which have just been released. These jerseys will then be auctioned off after the game to raise more funds for Gotcha4Life.

“The reason these two teams will now play for the Gotcha4life Cup is that we have ambassadors in both sides in James Tedesco and Sam Verrills from the Roosters, and Daly Cherry Evans and the Trbojevic brothers for Manly,’’ said Gotcha4Life Founder, Gus Worland.

“Having my team, the Roosters, against my Gotcha4life mate Hugh Jackman’s team, the Sea Eagles, will be awesome. We’ve been watching our teams play each other since the early 70s. We’ve spent many days at ‘Brookie’ and the old Sydney Sports Ground munching on pies and running for the corner post at full-time.”

Beyond a bit of friendly rivalry on and off the field, Worland said there’s a message he wants everyone to take home from the match.

“The key thing we want everyone who watches this match to take away is that mental fitness is as important as physical fitness. You need to train to be your best and it really helps to have a coach,’’ Worland added.

“When we talk about training, from a mental fitness point-of-view, we’re talking about anything you do to ensure that you’re in a good mental state to overcome the stresses and challenges that everyday life throws at us”.

“This game is special. We’re all on the same team off the field fighting mental health and fitness concerns,’’ Tom Trbojevic said.

“A lot of people go through many different challenges. If you don’t have that strong mate group, it’s harder to get through.

“It’s really important to make sure you go beyond someone saying they’re good to find out how they’re really feeling. People often put on a on a front. It’s important that we break that down to address any issues they may have.”

Watch Manly Sea Eagles Gotcha4Life Cup promo video