Adrian Morley officially retired at the end of Salford Red Devils’ game at Hull KR on Sunday but he has one more match to play and it will ensure he bows out on a high.
Morley, 38, is part of a team planning to climb Mount Kilimanjaro with the intention of claiming a place in the Guinness Book of World Records for the world’s highest game of rugby league on the way.
The main aim, however, is to raise funds and awareness for the trio of charities of the Steve Prescott Foundation; the Christie Hospital, Try Assist and the Oxford Transplant Foundation.
In addition to Morley, the climbers include former Warrington Wolves trio Lee Briers, Barrie McDermott and Garreth Carvell and First Utility Super League referee Robert Hicks, who will be in charge of the match.
The climbing party also include Sky Sports’ Angela Powers and BBC’s Beccy Meehan and actor Matthew Lewis, better known as Neville Longbottom from the Harry Potter films.
In the spirit of Steve Prescott, the former England and Ireland full-back who passed away in 2013 after a long and courageous battle against a rare form of stomach cancer after raising millions of pounds for charity, the challenge is to climb the 19,341ft mountain in Tanzania in just six days instead of the more usual nine.
And when they reach the summit, the team will mark out a full-sized rugby pitch, erect two sets of inflatable rugby posts and play a full game of rugby league.
Morley said: “I am really looking forward to this unique challenge by testing myself in a totally different way.
II’m sure we’ll all get points where we’re feeling low or homesick but it is up to all of us to help each other through.”
Meanwhile, Morley will remain involved in rugby league as he takes up an ambassadorial role with his home-town club Salford and director of rugby Tim Sheens insists it will be no window dressing.
“He’s a tremendous character, both on and off the field,” Australia national coach Sheens said.
“This is the only time I’ve worked directly with him. But I knew of him in Sydney and know him now, and he was such a brilliant competitor as he was at the Roosters.
“Having known him better with international experience with Australia it’s been a pleasure to be involved with him and hopefully I can help him move on with the next part of his life.
“We’ll be keen to help him out and get that smell of dressing room out of his nostrils – and we’ll use him in this ambassador’s role and we’ll keep him busy.
“He’s still got plenty to offer the game. He’s got coaching in him, and like most boxers, he’ll think about a comeback. I’m sure he’ll get itchy feet in that regard! He’ll keep himself involved and that’s important, he’s not going to be a window dressing – he wouldn’t want that.”
Salford’s acting head coach Ian Watson is also keen to have Morley involved with the team.
“Adrian will be a big loss in the dressing room,” Watson said. “He’s a big character and even though he’s at the back end of his career his leadership qualities have remained second to none.
“Salford need to build characters around the model of Moz and him being an ambassador for us will be huge. We’re keen to use him in different areas and the players only need to look at one man if they want a role model.”