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Lockdown capers make Kyle & kids social media stars..but Saints ace still has serious role to play

- BY JULIE STOTT

KYLE AMOR and his kids have become social media sensations with their cheery approach to the coronaviru­s lockdown.

The St Helens Grand Final winner has been using his two children as makeshift weights, as well as props in joke skits.

It’s 32-year-old Amor’s attempt to keep up his fitness and also spread a little happiness to rugby league fans starved of any live action.

But behind the scenes Amor and the rest of the Saints squad have been delivering a far more serious and valuable service.

The players have been secretly phoning old people connected with the club, asking if they need help.

The Super League champions hadn’t planned on revealing what they were doing but grateful fans have been eager to blow the trumpet for them.

Saints supporter Steve Ashcroft took to social media, saying: “A massive thank you for ringing my 82-year-old dad to see if he needed any help.”

That message was for Great Britain star Alex Walmsley – but all the players have been getting similar warm feedback.

Amor (below, with eight-yearold son Max) said: “It’s not something we have been doing for recognitio­n and we wanted to keep it quiet, but it’s got out.

“There are older people out there who might be lonely and vulnerable and do not have family care or support around them.

“These people have supported our club over the years and this is our chance to show our support for them as well.” Calls haven’t always gone to plan however, with one pensioner refusing to credit it was one of his heroes on the phone.

Amor said: “He didn’t believe me and it took me about three goes before I convinced him.

“It’s been really good ringing round. It’s not just about trying to give people reassuranc­e in these uncertain times, it’s also nice to have a natter with them.”

Saints had started the defence of their title in erratic form and were lying sixth in the table before the lockdown.

But Amor is convinced they will be ready to fire straight back into action whenever the season resumes.

And 11-year-old Lila and Max can boast that they’ve played their part in their dad’s fitness programme. One

of Amor’s social media posts shows him lying down, lifting a ladder with Lila laid out across it.

He said: “You’ve got to improvise. I wanted Max to go on top of her for added weight but my missus Carrie drew the line at that.

“But they’ve all been doing things with me and we’re just trying to keep each other happy and motivated.

“We’ve got to keep mentally strong as well as physically fit.”

Amor is also using the lockdown to push on with his part-time sports science degree – and win a bet with Carrie.

He said: “My wife has just finished her degree and got a 2:1 so I’ve told her I’ll beat that and be the cleverest in the house.

“So far I’ve got a first and a 2:1 in my assignment­s so I’m buzzing. I am quite competitiv­e

all told.”

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