Leaguel Counsel Episode Six

https://soundcloud.com/user-213310981/leaguel-counsel-ep5-040417

Indigenous Enigmas

Our game of Rugby League has a variety of different players. There is the immortals, players that will never be forgotten and were basically the best players we have ever had the privilege to witness. There is the one club stalwarts, the Steve Menzies and Alan Tongues of the world. There is the multiple club journey men like Jeremy Latimore and Corey Payne, players that don’t stay long at one club but do the job that is asked of them. There is the rocks and diamond type players where the sublime to the ridiculous occurs in a couple of sets, refer to Shaun Kenny-Dowell and Krisnan Inu for examples. One type of player that has died out is the kicking specialist, the player that can kick very well either at goal or in general play but other than that offers very little to nothing like Jason Taylor, Daryl Halligan or Eion Crossan. The one type of player that is really close to our heart is the Indigenous enigma. Let’s describe the indigenous enigma.

The indigenous enigma is generally a kid with indigenous heritage who is brought up and plays all his junior football in the bush. He’s the kid that every town within 200km knows about after he turns 10 year old. The kids skills are talked about throughout the pubs over schooners in Country New South Wales and Queensland. More often than not the kids father played a bit of top level league or sometimes a bit of prize fighting. When the kid turns 14 years old talent scouts from all the big Sydney clubs are watching his performances at the country football carnivals. During the tournaments these talent scouts are organising meetings with the kids parents trying to convince them that their club is the right one for their child and if he’s signs with them the club will look after his welfare. 

At the age of 15 he has already signed with a Sydney club. Some will go all the way to Sydney to finish their schooling only for half of them to return to their country town within a couple of months because of home schooling. They will then play senior football in their country league from 16 years old to their mid 30’s and become local legends in their communities. The stories at the local pub will be about what if….. what if the bloke didn’t get home sick and managed to stick it out in Sydney?

The kids that can get past the home sickness play SG Ball and Jersey Flegg for their clubs. Their tremendous skill alone makes them stars in these comps against soft city kids. By now they start to get allowances that gives them some spending money. The under 20’s comp beckons and their natural skill level gets them through but the effort on the training paddock starts to dwindle as their attention is drawn to the bright neon lights of the big city and they have a bit of cash with which to exploit it.

The head of football at the club and the first grade coach discuss often when they will blood him in first grade. They have been planning for years for this young prodigy to turn their club into title contenders. The problem is although he playing well at under 20s carving up the kids, they know the work behind the scenes isn’t happening and it won’t be a good look to the other players in the club if they give the kid an opportunity even though he has been cutting corners in the gym.

Its mid season now, the club is in the middle of the table and the injuries are taking their toll on the clubs roster. The club is desperate and they make the decision to give their Indigenous enigma a go in first grade. The kid looks a natural on the big stage, his skill speed and deceptive strength are a sight to behold. The Sydney media starts talking the kid up, his photo is splashed all over the daily telegraph, the panellists on the footy show wax lyrical about him.

He continues to string some great performances together and the club rides the wave of success on the back of his prodigal performances. After 25-30 first grade games things start to go wrong. He gets caught up with the wrong crowd, the success goes to his head, and he starts turning up late to training. His performances start to go down as well he becomes a turnstile in defence. He gets dropped and not much is heard of him for the rest of the season.

The kid has a big preseason but still has ill-disclipine and the club has to part ways. The fans can’t believe it, only 6 months ago they thought he was going to be a club all time great. The player is now damaged goods and other clubs are scared to go near him but are tempted by his potential and the mercurial performances he has produced on the big stage. This player goes from club to club showing flashes of glimpses but he can’t string it together consistently. He ends up with 60 first grade games before no other club wants him and he moves back to his home town to play senior grade football taking his town to a handful of premierships before retiring in his late 30s.

This is the average story of the Indigenous enigma type of player. They are so special to watch. When you have been following this great game as long as we have though you learn to really enjoy the brilliance because you know it may be gone all too soon. This week we ask on the podcast will Latrell Mitchell become an Indigenous enigma? Will he go down the path of Joe Williams, Wes Patten, Daine Laurie, Owen Craigie, Chris Sandow, Anthony Mitchell, Brett Grogan, Yilleen Gordon, Milton Thaiday, Richie Williams, Leo Dynevor and Ewan McGrady to name just a few. Latrell is at a turning point in his career the question is will he turn into the Indigenous enigma or the talented representative player like Matt Bowen, Sam Thaiday, Rhys Wesser, David Peachey and Nathan Blacklock or maybe even an all time great (e.g Arthur Beetson, Greg Inglis, Gordon Tallis). The interesting thing right now is that he is at a cross roads. He could go either way and we are looking forward to witnessing the story unfold.

Here is some indigenous grass roots rugby league at its best – sniff out an intercept from nowhere!