Ahead of the annual Beanie for Brain Cancer round this weekend, the NRL has extended its commitment to support the Mark Hughes Foundation (MHF), with the goal of raising $3 million and selling 175,000 beanies during the round.

The league’s wagering partner, Sportsbet, has revealed it will donate $1,000 for every try scored during the round, with the beanies also available for purchase through Lowes Australia and IGA Australia.

The launch of the annual round has also been supported with the announcement of a new Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle, with the MHF committing $15 million over five years to establish a dedicated research team and centre, and the University of Newcastle contributing $10 million.

On the support for the round provided by the NRL, fans, sponsors and athletes, NRL CEO, Andrew Abdo, said the significance and impact of the round continues to grow every year.

“Mark Hughes played rugby league with great spirit, but it has been his spirit in fighting and beating brain cancer and then setting up the Mark Hughes Foundation to help save lives that is inspiring,” Abdo said.

“Every year everyone in the game gets behind this cause with passion.

“More than $15 million dollars has been raised over five seasons of the Beanie for Brain Cancer round.

“The sight of the thousands of supporters at games wearing the Mark Hughes Foundation beanies has become a tradition and is symbolic of everyone’s support for the fight against brain cancer,” he said.

Discussing the launch of the new Mark Hughes Foundation Centre for Brain Cancer Research at the University of Newcastle and the support from the Australian community, Mark Hughes said: “This is a game changing step for brain cancer research in Australia and something we have been working towards since 2014.”

“More progress is urgently needed to improve the outlook for brain cancer patients, who are often in the prime of their lives, like myself, and their families.

“We will leave no stone unturned, we must get results as the clock is ticking for so many Australians.

“To every single person that has supported MHF and bought a beanie over the last eight years, I say thank you from the bottom of my heart.

“We are giving hope to so many, including myself,” Hughes said.