Almanac Rugby League – They just love their footy

 

By @Patrick_Skene

 

“Sport is life and the rest is a shadow” Donald Horne ‘Lucky Country’

 

For non sports fans, kicking and throwing around a leather bladder is a pointless triviality compared to the realities that confront us daily.

 

What they miss is sport’s role in preparing its participants to deal with those same realities – confronting fears, punctuality, learning to lose, building coping mechanisms and the development of humility through submitting to a system.

 

Sport can seem trivial but it produces manageable pressure and a fund of stories that people want to tell and retell.

 

Tales forged in the furnace.

 

On a deeper level sport has replaced the ancient meat hunt as the creator of heroes and stories.

 

We know this through ancient hunter gather societies that still exist today.

 

In the Hazda tribe of Tanzania, the top hunter’s stories are tracked and celebrated by the younger tribal boys.

 

To become a Paleolithic rock star, small prey was not acceptable

 

The bigger the prey, the greater the risk, the more meat to share, the greater the tales.

 

Around the campfire each night, the young boys of the tribe idolise their favourite hunter, mimicking stories and replaying actions.

 

This tradition lives on today with millions of Australian boys imitating their heroes taking a backyard hanger or executing a ‘Benji’ sidestep.

 

As father time beats relentlessly and I get farther from my misty sporting peak, the tougher, faster, stronger I was in my sports stories.

 

The selective amnesia of nostalgia.

 

But some never had the chance to create the tall tales.

 

Medical conditions meant that for some, sport has been something that other people do – a luxury for the fit, the healthy, the lucky.

 

The greatness and disappointments of the contest are always other people’s, never their own.

 

And some are lucky enough to get their chance, when a group’s barriers to participation are removed and they get to play the sport they love.

 

The NSW Physically Disability Rugby League Association (NSWPDRLA) is one such group.

 

The NSWPDRLA is the brainchild of Chairperson and player George Tonna, a father of three from Ingleburn in the Rugby League heartland of South West Sydney.

 

George has experienced the heightened emotions of representative sport, representing Australia as Vice Captain in Soccer at the Paralympian games in 2000.

 

George is also a South Sydney Rabbitohs fanatic, helped start Rugby League in Malta as a founder of the Maltese Knights Rugby League Club and is famous for his rugby league video collection.

 

George has Cerebral Palsy and started the NSWPDRLA as a platform to unite the physically disabled to live their dream and play the game they love.

 

His social media posts reveal his infectiously positive approach to life.

“Life is what u want to make of it now stand up and be heard be proud of who u are yes I am disabled and living life to the fullest” George Tonna

The NSWPDRLA started in 2010 and brings together a broad group of physically disabled Rugby League players living with cerebral palsy, acquired brain injuries, muscular atrophy and upper and lower body amputees.

 

The Association plays every third weekend and is made up of four clubs representing famous Rugby League clubs: South Sydney Rabbitohs, Sydney Roosters, Newtown Jets and Manly Sea Eagles.

 

The clubs supply kits, cover the events on their websites and sometimes host their games as curtain raisers allowing them to play on hallowed grounds like ANZ Stadium, Henson Park and Brookvale Oval.

 

George Tonna and his team put serious thought into the rule modifications to ensure the game was as inclusive as possible.

 

Each team is broken up into “red shorts” and “black shorts”. ‘Red shorts’ are players with more advanced physical disability and they are not tackled but “touched” to trigger a play the ball.

 

The non contact with ‘red shorts’ allow juniors and women to participate creating a game for everybody.

 

“Black shorts” are players whose disability or movement is less restricted and they play normal NRL rules including full contact big hits.

 

Each team is allowed two “able bodied” players on the field but they are effectively football eunuchs – they cannot score tries, kick goals, kick in general play.

 

Able bodied players can tackle and be tackled, but in the spirit of things these are mostly standing bear hugs.

 

Four years into running the NSW Physical Disability Rugby League Sydney tournament, George Tonna decided to realise another of his dreams.

 

To host his first “rep game” by replicating the NRL’s showcase representative fixture: The Aboriginal All-Stars vs the NRL All-Stars.

 

In this case to celebrate NAIDOC week – a Combined Indigenous Nations Team against the NSWPDRLA All-Stars.

By day George works in Redfern as a Land and Notification officer with NTS CORP, a service provider for Aboriginal native title issues in NSW.

“Through my work I know that a lot of the Aboriginal community love their footy and in the community there is a group of physically disabled League fans who have waited their whole life for the chance to run onto the field,” George said.

 

“And to represent their mob is a mind blowing concept for these guys, something they would never have imagined.”

The media release looked intriguing.

‘The New South Wales Physical Disability Rugby League Association (NSWPDRLA) are pleased to announce that during the 2014 NAIDOC celebrations on Saturday July 12th 2014 at Redfern Oval, Souths Cares will host a physical disability representative rugby league match with teams comprised of our playing members.

The Combined Indigenous Nations side will take on the NSWPDRLA All Stars side.

Former South Sydney Rabbitohs Superstar Rhys Wesser will turn out for the Combined Indigenous Nations side as an Able Bodied player on the day.’

And so it was to be – the first Physically Disabled Rugby League All Stars representative game.

On a crisp and breezy Saturday morning, Redfern Park was a colourful flotsam of families, hipsters, canines and arguing couples.

 

This morning saw a new addition to the human landscape.

 

In they came, marching past fountain and cenotaph, around the steel art installations, stomping around the imposing Moreton Bay figs and swaying Canary Island palm trees.

 

Some had limps, others were limbless, a few strutted, some wore grins, many bore the scar tissue of exclusion.

 

The Physical Disability Rugby League boys were in town.

 

Today was their day.

 

They strode forward with a sense of purpose for history was in the making – a group of disparate men would come together to play the game they love and represent their communities.

 

Redfern Park Café was ground zero as the players, friends, families and carers assembled for battle.

 

Lists were ticked off, coffee and eggs consumed, banter was rolling and the air crackled with expectation.

 

I had been joined at the table by the first Aboriginal ABC rugby league caller Brad Cooke who was pointing out various players and their stories.

 

He had done a story on Physically Disabled Rugby League a few years ago on NITV and was hooked on the great characters that this form of the game produced.

 

I flicked through the official Match Program and the “Words from the purposing Captains” caught my eye.

 

The Combined Indigenous Nations Captain’s speech read “My name is Bill Bussell. I have always wanted to play footy since I was small. I only started walking at 4 years of age because of Cerebral Palsy. When I was about 10 years old I was a mascot for a couple of teams at Minto Cobras.

 

I used to watch every game I could from my little brothers Glen and Greg, my two teams that included Ken and Kevin McGuiness and John Skandallis (NRL stars) and by dad and uncle in the A grade. And now it’s my turn.”

 

As the minutes ticked on towards a very generous 11am start, more players arrived and the café came alive – a flurry of hail-fellow-well-met, hugs, chest bumps, special handshakes, hair rustles, and cackles of laughter.

 

Organiser George Tonna was beaming – his tribe had assembled and magic lay ahead – stories were to be created today.

 

George said “Today is a special one for these guys,”

 

“We just want to play like everyone else – no special treatment,”

 

“People focus on what you can’t do and it’s exciting to prove people wrong.”

 

Writing about disability sports can be challenging, capturing the lives of extraordinary people who ask to be treated as normal as possible.

 

A few of the players were whispering to each other about some of the recent arrivals to the now overflowing café group.

 

Some legends were in the house.

 

Manly Sea Eagles and NSW legend Ron “Rambo” Gibbs was to coach the Combined Indigenous Nations team.

 

A proud Barkindji man, Gibbs had been considered by some to be pound for pound the hardest man in Rugby League in the 90’s.

 

He had taken and given some heavy shots in his career but here he was, fresh off a drive from Dubbo, looking fit and sharp.

 

He was chatting with one of the great characters of Rugby League – 300 game Manly, Kangaroos and Aboriginal League legend Cliff ‘Cliffy’ Lyons who had volunteered as one of the Combined Indigenous Nations ‘Able Bodied’ players.

 

From the mighty Wiradjuri nation, Cliffy played well into his 40’s and in addition to being one of the game’s greatest ever creative five eighths, was one of Rugby League’s last full time cigarette smokers.

 

Pack a day back in the day.

 

They were joined by one of the game’s true gentlemen, former Queensland, Penrith Panthers and South Sydney Rabbitohs NRL star Rhys Wesser.

 

Rhys was named as the Panthers greatest ever fullback and over his 177 games he electrified the fans at the foot of the Blue Mountains, scoring a club record 113 tries.

 

Rhys came down from Rockhampton to have a go at Rugby League and was so successful that he now has the Rhys Wesser Carnival named after him in his hometown.

 

These days Rhys runs Aboriginal programs for ‘Souths Cares’ foundation providing inner city Aboriginal kids with an accessible and genuine role model.

 

Rhys was the other Combined Indigenous Nations ‘Able Bod’ player alongside Cliffy Lyons – today they would make other people look good.

 

In turn the Combined Indigenous Nations team would be running off some legends.

 

The players were buzzing and excited to play at Redfern Oval and rightfully so.

 

They normally played on outer suburban cow paddocks which made Redfern Oval look like Wembley by comparison.

 

For hardcore league fans, Redfern Oval is holy ground.

 

From 1948-1987, Redfern Oval was the home of the mighty South Sydney Rabbitohs, a Rugby League juggernaut who won nine premierships there including two great dynasties; a legendary team in the mid 50’s and the all conquering team of the late 60’s and early 70’s.

 

It is a spiritual green space for the Aboriginal community, the current Souths team train there and it is the home of the local Redfern All Blacks team.

 

The café hubbub was pierced by the shouts and screams of women playing in the first game on Redfern Oval as the inner city Aboriginal Redfern All Blacks Women’s team posted a length of the field try on their outer suburban Polynesian sisters from Doonside.

 

Today was Rugby League in all its inclusive glory.

 

At 10.15am both teams moved out of the Redfern Park Café to the warm up areas in Redfern Park followed by their support crews.

 

Brand new jerseys were handed out to thrilled players.

 

The NSWPDRLA All-Stars in silky Blue and Combined Indigenous Nations in their brand new brown, black and white uniforms – the same colours as the NRL Indigenous All-Stars jumper.

 

Having a locally designed Combined Indigenous Nations jersey was a dream of George Tonna’s and this jumper was designed by local La Perouse girl Karlie Stewart, guided by Elder Kay Bussell, mother of the captain Bill Bussell.

 

Combined Indigenous Nations Captain Bill Bussell, from Israel Folau’s hometown of Minto, rallied his team into a group for ‘Rambo’ Ron Gibbs to start the warm ups.

 

Bill is a tall Wiradjuri, Yorta Yorta man who was born with significant cerebral palsy. The committee selected him as captain as a reward for the faith he has shown in the Association, having been there since day one.

 

Bill’s team mates couldn’t understand some of his speech but they could feel his passion – the real currency of team sport.

 

Bill’s team was a mix of Indigenous, Maori, Middle Eastern and even a Chinese player to complete the mix.

 

The All-Stars team was captained by David Grech, a Rugby League disciple from Mount Annan, another from Rugby Leagues South West heartland.

 

One of the most popular characters in the Association, his never say die attitude and love for Rugby League won him the inaugural All-Stars captain’s role.

 

‘Grechy’ is a super confident rugby league fanatic and loves bodybuilding, showing off his amazing abdominal 6-pack to interested onlookers.

 

His team started their warm ups with some basic passing drills.

 

Groups of family, carers, friends, media and general football fans gathered around both groups for their warm ups, the enormity of what they were witnessing slowly marinating.

 

The drills represented a challenge in themselves.

 

Some of the players with a low level movement disability charged through their formations, crisp passes and clean catching.

 

Others struggled to catch, pass and run or bend down and pick up.

 

For some ‘red shorts’ running was a great struggle.

 

Somerset Maugham once said “But what can you know of life unless you have lived it”.

The warm up drills rolled on, balls were caught, balls were spilled, bodies were warmed up, motivational messages were barked by coaches, captains and team mates.

 

Combined Indigenous Nations Skill Drills

 

An interesting phenomena was unfolding before us.

 

The men and women watching on the side – friends, family and carers were shedding tears.

 

Tears in Rugby League are alien imposters.

 

It’s a hard, bone nosed, throwback, unemotional sport, weakness is a sin and crying is for the more “emotional” sports.

 

But not today.

 

Blue collar hard men were wiping away tears, overwhelmed by seeing the simple joy of opportunity realised.

 

Men and women making the most of the hand they’ve been dealt.

 

Today the players would get the opportunity to pay back their carers, family and friends, repay their investment of time and care.

“I am disabled I am proud of who I am now look inside your self and start living and never take a backward step go forward in life and enjoy.” George Tonna tweet

The warm ups were faithfully captured by National Indigenous Television producer/presenter/cameraman Kris Flanders, who was here to cover the game.

What a buzz it was for the Indigenous players to have Kris from NITV News covering their games.

 

So many times they had watched their heroes on NITV and today they were to be the feature story.

 

The Combined Indigenous Nations drills were mesmerising to watch.

 

In true Aboriginal style there was a rhythm to the drills, drawing in all onlookers to this circle of men undertaking their new tribal rites.

 

NRL Legend Rambo Ronny Gibbs walking between his Combined Indigenous Nations troops, passing, kicking, cajoling, laughing.

 

A man with nothing to prove, delighted to be giving back.

 

He was accompanied by ‘Big G’, Gary Ta, a Maori Rugby League fanatic and unofficial assistant coach who was carrying an injury and couldn’t play.

 

‘Big G’ was all business dressed in his NSW Blues hat and scarf.

 

George Tonna said that ‘Big G’ was one of the great success stories of the NSWPDRLA.

 

‘Big G’ had been a high level Rugby League representative player in New Zealand and his teammates, friends and siblings believed he was bound for the NRL.

 

Then a stroke brought his world tumbling down, restricting his mobility and sent him into a depression.

 

George said “Big G thought he was never going to play Rugby League again before he found us. Look at his confidence now.”

 

They were a diverse crew indeed.

 

‘Able Bod’ Aboriginal Rugby League legends Cliffy Lyons and Rhys Wesser were mixing in there, advising, laughing and listening to their new teammates.

 

“Sports do not build character. They reveal it” — Heywood Broun, sportscaster

 

Slowly the confidence built and the characters started to emerge.

 

Combined Indigenous Nations Captain Bill Bussell dropped a ball and gave his thigh a slap before his team mates surrounded him with support.

 

Some of the more severely affected cerebral palsy players would take 20 quivering seconds to pick up a dropped ball.

 

His teammates would patiently wait, chatting among each other, one peppering his hero and now teammate Cliff Lyons with questions.

 

A roar of positivity would accompany every pass caught, every ball picked up.

 

Support and encouragement were meat and drink for this team.

 

One Combined Indigenous Nations player completed every drill with a huge grin.

 

Proud Yuin, Wodi Wodi, Monaro man, Kevin Mundy had made the journey from the South Coast with his proud father Paul Campbell.

 

Paul had broken down and cried watching the warm ups, swelling with pride that his son was not only playing footy but representing his community.

 

Kevin has built a thriving life despite brain damage and had a deep love of Rugby League like most Aboriginal boys on the South Coast.

 

One can only imagine their excitement on the father and son road trip to play for an Indigenous Representative team at the famous Redfern Oval.

Combined Indigenous Nations Player  Allan Lockwood

 

The blue uniformed All-Stars were completing their own drills with similar patience levels and fraternity.

 

These were less focused on ball skills and more on general movement exercises, the sideways walking squat presenting challenges of its own.

 

A ball spilled in my direction and their captain David Grech was standing in front of me.

 

“Your team enjoying themselves Skipper?” I asked.

 

“Beats watching!” He said with a huge grin and returned to his drills with a knee rattling canter.

 

Some of the All-Stars looked nervous, soaked with doubts and the physical fear of waiting for battle.

 

Having George Tonna on their team helped immensely, his experience and calmness guiding them through the pre match nerves.

 

George was excited – all the NSW Physically Disabled Rugby League games to date had been 9-a-side and today was the first 13 a side version.

 

The All-Stars were coached by David Smith, who is the football operations manager for the NSWPDRLA and a familiar friend to the team.

 

His passing drills ran smoothly, overlaid by simple, clear and timeless instructions.

 

“If someone scores a try, all go in and celebrate. Shake your mate’s hand.”

 

“Know the limitations of your team mates,”

 

“If the guy next to you is slower than you, reduce your speed.”

 

The mood was lightened as a ball caught one of the All-Stars players flush on the side of head.

 

The resounding and familiar thump brought a huge roar of laughter from the team who love a “Falcon”.

 

This team was full of characters, jokers having a laugh with lots of backslapping.

 

The Coach David Smith, Captain David Grech and George Tonna brought the All-Stars team back into the huddle for the final chat.

 

The final whistle blew on the Redfern All Blacks vs Doonside womens game.

 

It had been competitive early but the athleticism of the Aboriginal women had won the day 54-6 over their bigger and less mobile opponents from outer western Sydney.

 

Back in the Combined Indigenous Nations camp, Coach Rambo Ronny Gibbs called the team together for the pre game talk.

 

The mood was buoyant.

 

‘Rambo’ ran through the rules.

 

“Anyone with red shorts, it’s a two handed grab around the shoulders and you can’t go to ground,”

 

“No scrums,”

 

“Don’t be a ball hog!”

 

Another South Sydney try scoring legend Terry Fahey aka ‘The Redfern Express’ had joined the onlookers of the Combined Indigenous Nations.

 

He looked in great shape and had volunteered to be the Assistant Coach of the team.

 

He had made the trip from his home in Dubbo and had a special interest in proceedings; his daughter Tessa was the only female player today and his body language betrayed his delight as she participated in the drills

 

‘Rambo’ Ron Gibbs continued his instructions “Able bodied players are wearing the orange vests,”

 

“You’re lucky to have two of the greats to run off today, Rhys and Cliffy,”

NRL Legends Cliff Lyons and Rhys Wesser with Tristan Gibbs (Centre)

 

Abdul, the Lebanese connection in the Combined Indigenous Nations scratched his head and pointed to Cliffy Lyons.

 

“Who’s this guy?”

 

One of the players replied “Its Cliffy Lyons, legend brotha.”

 

“I never seen ‘im.” said Abdul, unimpressed.

 

The players roared with belly laughter.

 

Rambo went around to each player to check and remove any jewelry,

and got to the last player, Robert Murray aka the Dubbo Express.

 

“Any jewelry Robert”

 

He replied “Do the family jewels count?” and pointed to his nether regions.

 

The whole squad buckled over with laughter, some nervous and some the real thing.

 

Robert was a character, a Gamilaroi man from Collarenabri, who had been named on the bench for the Combined Indigenous Nations.

 

He wasn’t physically disabled but intellectually disabled or ‘ID’.

 

To make up the numbers a few ‘ID’ ring ins had been added to the squads.

 

Rambo Ron Gibbs allocated the final roles.

 

“Who wants to be the kicker?”

 

Robert Murray volunteered.

 

Ron replied “You’re not the kicker, you can’t kick.”

 

The group went deathly quiet.

 

Assistant Coach ‘Big G’ spoke up, pulling his Coach into line.

 

“Ron, don’t tell him what he can’t do, you know that.”

 

Ron apologised to Robert and the drills went on.

 

The iron clad rules of engaging the disabled apply to everybody.

 

The simple mantras apply universally – Play the ball not the man, see the person, not the disability.

 

Former Disability Discrimination Commissioner, Graeme Innes once said the biggest problem limiting the achievement of people with disability is “the soft bigotry of low expectations.”

 

Today was to be a day without limitations.

 

The teams were photographed and then they both took to the field, red shorts, mixed with black shorts and facilitated by two orange vested ‘Able Bod’ players.

The Combined Indigenous All-Stars team shot

 

The handicappers had had a busy day but they had brought everybody to parity.

 

The crowd at Redfern Oval was buzzing, friends, families and the curious.

“Be heard and not seen now roar for joy and acknowledge who u are in life, life is too short now get busy living.” George Tonna tweet

NSW Minister for Disablity Services John Ajaka led both proud captains away for the coin toss, which was won by David Grech from the NSWPDRLA All-Stars.

 

The football gods had smiled on this one and delivered a gentle breeze across Redfern Oval under a sun kissed blue sky.

 

The referees whistle blew and the historical first representative game under way with a kick off from the Combined Indigenous Nations team.

 

The next 30 minutes were a blur of colour and motion.

 

Too many heroic moments to recount.

 

Cut out passes, big hits, tackling with energy and tenacity.

 

The Black Shorts and the Red Shorts lined each other up, mini battles within the war.

 

The Black Shorts from both teams warmed to the theme early plunging into each other, launching into tackles with a sunny willingness.

 

The joy of contact.

 

For the Red Shorts, forward movement was the aim and the opposing players would allow a Red Shorts player to run 10 metres before tipping them.

 

A gentlemen’s agreement that held for the game.

 

An early standout for the Black Shorts was Combined Indigenous Nations elusive fullback, Kyle Schaberg.

 

Born in South Africa and now living in the Northern Beaches, Kyle cannot speak but communicates through ‘Facebook and mannerisms’.

 

And he loves to run.

 

And so did his All-Stars opponent Nick Richies from Narellan in South West Sydney.

 

Two men of equal ability that found each other.

 

Nick scored a couple of length of the field tries, Afro hairstyle bobbing in the wind chased relentlessly by Kyle Schaberg.

 

Redfern Oval became the savannah. Sometimes predator, sometimes prey these two men felt the joy of the chase and created a story together nipping at each others heels.

 

I consulted my trusty Official Match program for their season stats and there they were, 1^st and 2^nd in the NSWPDRLA try scoring season rankings, Richies with 9 tries and Schaberg with 6.

 

Back and forth they went and for those 40 minutes it was a rivalry to match Federer and Nadal.

 

Nick’s second rower team mate, number 12 Allan Lockwood was putting in some hard yards in indigenous designed headgear.

 

A proud Aniwan/Dhungutti man he had made his way from his hometown of Armidale, a 6 hour drive to Sydney.

 

He ran the ball into the All-stars defence as if his life depended on it.

 

Tries were scored, big tackles between the black shorts, most times players helping each other up.

 

Cliffy Lyons and Rhys Wesser ran amongst their Combined Indigenous Nations team mates, looking for pockets to gently insert their own abilities and enjoying the organised chaos.

 

Robert “Crown Jewels” Murray was everywhere, a darting dark smiling force, bobbing and weaving. .

 

The most intriguing story of the day lay with those in the ‘red shorts’.

 

Alex Ma, the Chinese Connection in the Combined Indigenous Nations was a standout.

 

Last year Alex could not even run further than two metres at a time in tiny steps, effectively running on the spot.

 

He opted for an operation in which both his hips were broken and realigned for a better walking style.

 

And here he was today running the ball up for a no nonsense 10 metres, having been hand delivered the ball from his hero Cliffy Lyons.

 

Alex plays for the Manly Warringah Sea Eagles in the NSWPDRL and has been adopted by the Manly NRL team as their number one supporter, attending awards nights and running out with the team before games.

 

One that remains in my memory was a battle royale of ‘red shorts’.

 

Alex Ma slowly and jerkily took the ball forward towards All-Stars captain David Grech.

 

Both have severe cerebral palsy and sensing a level playing field, ‘charged’ slowly at each other.

 

At the point of contact their exciting collision of wills continued and as if on pogo sticks they bounced in to each other a number of times, every fibre of their being committed to winning vital metres.

 

They fell down onto each other in a grunting tangle and helped each other up.

 

“As I live and learn from my disability cerebral palsy I now understand that the disability has made the person I am today” George Tonna tweet

 

I walked among the crowd who were transfixed, relatives, partners and carers bursting with pride.

 

One Aboriginal woman in full Rasta gear said to her male companion “You should appreciate what you got and stop whinin’.”

 

The All-Stars scored again.

 

David Grech missed a long range conversion from a 45 degree angle.

 

He missed and we knew he would but that wasn’t the point.

 

The siren rang for half time and the score was NSWPDRLA All-Stars 12 , Combined Indigenous Nations 6

 

Coach Rambo Ron Gibbs gathered the Combined Indigenous Nations around him and distributed water and oranges.

 

He addressed the team “You mightn’t be thirsty, but take a drink”

 

“Spread the ball around ay”

 

“Chris, very good running.”

 

“Kyle, excellent chasing.”

 

“Everybody has to make at least two tackles.”

 

“Put your hand up if you haven’t made two tackles.”

 

Number 4 Matthew Ngametua honestly shot his hand up answering “I’ve got none but they are scared to run at me”

 

Assistant Trainer Big G chimed in. “Take the legs boy”

 

Matthew Ngametua is a proud Maori Rugby League fanatic who has cerebral palsy.

 

He got in touch with George Tonna on Facebook and was so inspired that he came across from Auckland to play in the game.

 

He wants to start a League in New Zealand and one day play a test match together.

 

Today he wanted to tackle.

 

I asked him how he was enjoying the day.

 

“Overwhelmed and surprised bro.” he replied.

Half time talk from Coach Ron “Rambo Gibbs” 

 

The second half started and with the rested players spirits revived, it was more of the same- Length of the field tries, big hits, rampaging runs, dummies.

 

I walked amongst the standing crowd and could feel that the crowd had turned from sympathetic to outright respect.

 

The spectators were wiser in the rules of the game and could now anticipate outcomes based on the varied abilities of the players.

 

They had evolved from cheering for their loved ones to being completely absorbed, vested in the highs and lows of the game.

 

Robert Murray, the Dubbo Express was running amok.

 

Although intellectually disabled, he was a good rugby league player and had not got the memo to slow down for his physically disabled brethren.

 

He scored a try and converted himself to bring the score back to 18-12.

 

Tessa Fahey ran the ball up, crab like and then straightening before being tipped.

 

Tessa is intellectually disabled and wore the red shorts today.

 

She looked over at her father, Souths legend Terry Fahey who looked super proud of his warrior queen.

 

The Black Shorts on both teams lined each other up.

 

George Tonna looked a bit lost with the pace of the game.

 

Alex Ma took the ball up again relentlessly, black leg braces on his calves, knees cracking together.

 

An All-Stars player took a one handed catch from the kickoff.

 

Another All-Stars player Marik Gleizer scored a try and was having a great day tackling with gusto.

 

He had been born able bodied and a good field hockey player, but suffered a stroke and become disabled.

 

He had played Cerebral Palsy Soccer for Australia and was a true team player unselfishly passing twice leading to tries.

 

The stories continued to grow.

 

All-Stars Number 8 Geoff Clark was proudly wearing a graze on his cheek.

 

He had an intense head clash with Kevin Mundy, the Combined Indigenous Nations winger.

 

No way would either man come off the field today and they would laugh about it later over a beer.

 

In addition to Cerebral Palsy Geoff has only 15% eyesight and runs forward with blind faith.

 

Geoff has no idea when he is about to be tackled, a level of bravery no NRL player has ever had to contemplate.

 

I walked through the crowd a final time.

 

Grassroots sports fans have a finely tuned intuition and can smell authenticity.

 

The more it means to the participants the more they buy in.

 

Today’s buy in was beyond doubt.

 

They had been delivered an experience rich beyond understanding.

 

Each carer, friend, family member knew the individual battles that had taken place just to get on the field.

 

The siren squealed and it was over.

 

The NSWPDRLA All-Stars had triumphed over the Combined Indigenous Nations 28-16

 

“You can achieve so much in life if you have a healthy mind and never give up on your dreams and hopes be prepared to take the knocks to achieve” George Tonna tweet

 

The crowd stood as one to applaud this group of improbable heroes who had shown there is greatness in us all.

 

The scene resembled a grand final as parents, siblings, friends, guardians and carers ran onto the field to spend time with their loved ones, bursting with pride at their achievements.

 

Rusted on Rugby league fans are a group not given to hyperbole but this group was gushing as they mobbed both teams, pure crystalline joy.

 

Strangers shook hands and talked like old friends around the bonfire.

 

The players came together as one – they had conquered their doubts and fear of failure, fear of embarrassing themselves.

 

One of the tough judges said “That’s one of the best things I’ve ever seen”

 

One of the NSW Physically disabled Rugby League committee members swooped at the opportunity.

 

“That’s great, what’s your number mate, we need refs.”

 

Numbers were swapped.

 

The post match celebrations were the very essence of sport.

 

Overjoyed and relieved parents and carers hugged and reminisced with their heroes who had come through unscathed

 

Kris Flanders from NITV was feverishly interviewing players and capturing the jubilant scene.

 

I asked him between interviews “How are you going to fit this all in Kris,”

 

He smiled and replied “Wasn’t that amazing. We have to spread this over two nights.”

 

Nobody wanted to leave, and both teams were asked repeatedly over the loudspeaker to clear the field for the following A-Reserve game.

 

The players needed it to last as long as possible. Today meant so much.

 

Finally they came to the sidelines for the presentation.

 

I spoke to Alex Ma’s proud Chinese father Max, who was overwhelmed by the day.

 

“One of the best days of Alex’s life,”

 

“What a game Rugby League is!”

 

“I don’t know why it isn’t big in China,”

 

“Its different to Soccer where you show your weakness all the time,”

 

“In League you spend 80 minutes trying not to look injured, hiding your weakness,”

 

“It’s a mans game, I love it.”

Alex Ma signing a ball for a fan

 

Captains Bill Bussell and David Grech came to the front of the presentation to give their speeches, both players dealing with a high level of cerebral palsy.

 

Someone yelled “Don’t swear Grechy.”

 

He finished his speech with a resounding “Lets party” and held the winners shield aloft.

All-Stars Captain David Grech with the trophy

 

Combined Indigenous Nations captain Bill Bussell gave an excited heartfelt speech that only his mum could understand.

 

George Tonna said to me later – “We didn’t need to understand him to know what he said.”

 

I looked over at NRL legend Rhys Wesser who smiled and said to me “They just love their footy”

 

George Tonna’s speech was short and sweet.

 

“We all share the passion of rugby league. How wonderful that a new group got to play rep footy today,”

 

“Listen in fellas. Lets all get dressed and head to the pub for a BBQ,”

 

“It’s at the Tudor on Pitt Street.”

 

The players of both teams limped off to the pub.

 

They had slain some big game and were off to tell their stories.

 

It had been all on display today: leadership, bravery, positivity, not accepting boundaries and leading by example.

 

Through the whim of fate and conjunction of circumstances these athletes had come together to create a simple tale of heroes – living and breathing mythology.

 

As I watched them leave I realised that for some players, I had witnessed the most important day in their lives.

 

It had been an honour to share it.

 

I left Redfern Oval thinking that the great Louis Armstrong was right: for all its complexity and unfairness, it is indeed a wonderful world.

 

Both teams together after the game

 

Check out NITV’s 2 part special News story on the event.

 

Part 1 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RWlo6qPd2Iw

 

Part 2 – https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=yV04gbXUURo

 

For other articles by @Patrick_Skene click here http://www.footyalmanac.com.au/author/patrick_skene/