The next Thomas Flegler or Jake Clifford to make it in the NRL won’t be grown on trees.
They will be nurtured and developed at true community hubs like the Tully Rugby League Club in north Queensland by wholehearted volunteers like their under 13 boys coach William Cunningham.
Broncos prop Flegler and Knights half Clifford, both Tully juniors, can be assured the support they received as lads is being continued.
Nominated for the Queensland Rugby League's monthly Ned Australian Whisky Community Coach Award, Cunningham - whose two sons Cooper, 13, and Dylan, 16, play for Tully - travels hundreds of kilometres each week from his family home in Innisfail to coach, referee and assist wherever needed at the club.
“It is really important to have people like William involved in the game and especially in Tully where we do a lot of travel,” Tully junior registrar Tegan Duiker said.
“Our closest game is 50 kilometres away in Innisfail but most of our games are in Cairns. Will drives 50 kilometres each way, and twice a week, just to coach.
“What I like about Will as a coach is that he is really fair and doesn’t play favourites. It’s all about giving kids a go in different positions. He isn’t so set about winning. It is definitely about fun.
“With my son he will take the time to talk to him and explain what he needs to work on. Nothing is ever too much for him. At home games he will be coaching and then he will go and referee, help in the canteen or fill in wherever he is needed.”
Cunningham coached the 10s, 11s and 12s age groups in previous seasons at Tully. His father was a league fan and he started playing in the Penrith area as a five-year-old.
After breaking his leg, he got into refereeing and began coaching in Brisbane at the Waterford Demons. He coached at Innisfail Cowboys and Innisfail Brothers but has found a home at Tully where he said he was drawn to the community-based spirit and warm welcome his family received.
“I love the community of rugby league and the passion of the parents, but what I really love is seeing the Tully kids develop and grow into young adults,” Cunningham said.
“I also teach the kids to always have respect for referees, officials and the other team as well.
“You see kids go away to carnivals and making rep teams and they get to meet other children. After the game they are shaking hands. I just like seeing the boys enjoying their football and making good friends along the way.
“Everyone at Tully works hard to make sure the kids have fun and compete at a high level.”
Tully products Flegler, Clifford, and South Sydney’s Jack Campagnolo, all came back to the club in their breaks to give back with drills and encouragement for the young players.
“They came home for Christmas holidays and did coaching clinics and the kids love them,” Cunningham said.
“Our under 12s played just before the game between Queensland Italy and North Queensland Samoa and Tom Flegler ran the water and came and took photos with our kids and reinforces to them that it is clubs like Tully where your career starts.
“The club did a little clip with the kids when Tom made the Maroons last year just saying, ‘awesome stuff Tom’. It is a great community that is so proud of how far he has gone.”
On a personal note, Cunningham said he drew a lot of inspiration from the community focus of Queensland Maroons legend and former Brisbane Broncos superstar Steve Renouf.
“When I was a boy my dad was a big Western Suburbs Magpies fan and when we went to Campbelltown I said to him that I just wanted to see Steve Renouf score a length-of-the-field try and five minutes later he did,” Cunningham said.
“Since he retired, Renouf has always been someone I look up to for the great work he does with Indigenous kids and with the Deadly Choices program. Here at Tully I have about 80 per cent of my boys are Indigenous. A highlight of their day is coming to training and I always try and make it enjoyable for them.”
Cunningham has plenty more coaching on the horizon and intends to facilitate his granddaughter’s rugby league career.
“My daughter has a daughter now and when she turns six I will be helping her with rugby league. I just love rugby league and I always will,” he said.
For more information on the QRL's 2022 community awards or to nominate a volunteer or club, click here.
