The players of the 2022 All Abilities carnival
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The second annual All Abilities carnival will kick off in Townsville this weekend, as the Townsville Blackhawks and Mackay Cutters go head to head in the exciting tournament.
This carnival means a lot of different things to all players, from all backgrounds, whether it be an opportunity to exercise or to make new friends or to just belong.
For Adrian Mazzucco and John Slade, who have autism, and Mitchell Vella and Thomas Graham, who are intellectually impaired, it is all of the above.
The quartet have spoken to Queensland Rugby League ahead of Saturday's carnival at Jack Manski Oval, sharing what they love about All Abilities rugby league, which teams they supported growing up, and who has been their biggest influence in life.
Adrian Mazzucco
Age: I'm 27, turning 28 in August.
Team: Townsville Blackhawks
Career outside of footy: I mow lawns in Ingham. I also am a touch judge for the seniors in the TDRL (Townsville and District Rugby League) and have started refereeing juniors. I’m always keeping active.
Born and bred: I was born in Townsville and live in Ingham. I travel for my training and games.
How long have you been playing All Abilities rugby league? I played when we went down to Mackay last year (for an All Abilities match). That was my first game. I’ve played a few games now.
How did you get introduced to it? I got introduced by someone through the Blackhawks that is a relation of mine ... my cousin. He talked to my dad and my dad talked to our coach and that’s how I got involved.
Were you a rugby league fan growing up? Oh, yes. I’ve followed football since I was a little boy.
Which team did you support growing up? I went for the North Queensland Cowboys, but now I go for the Wests Tigers. I’ve always liked the Tigers and they were my second team. The Cowboys were going through that rough patch and losing all the time. I’m still going for the Tigers now.
Who was your favourite player? Matty Bowen and Benji Marshall.
What do you love about All Abilities rugby league? It’s good exercise and I get to meet new people. I’ve always wanted to play footy all my life. I didn’t get a chance to play league ... I decided to do this and I’ve enjoyed playing All Abilities.
What are you known best for on the field? I’m good at scoring, running, catching – all round.
What has been the highlight of your time in All Abilities? Going to Mackay and also scoring tries and just meeting new people.
What does this carnival and All Abilities mean to you? It feels like I’m welcome to this team and the club community. It’s just fitting in.
Do you have any goals with All Abilities? Not really.
Who would be your best mate that you’ve met through All Abilities? I’d have to say Thomas (Graham).
Who is your biggest influence in life? I’d have to say my dad. He’s really been a big influence on my life. He just encourages me to be a better person and to be the best I can be.
John Slade
Age: 25
Team: Mackay Cutters
Career outside of footy: I work at Auto Corner and I used to work at Endeavour (Foundation).
Born and bred: NSW. I grew up in Maitland and moved to Mackay in June, 2006.
How long have you been playing All Abilities rugby league? Since 2016.
How did you get introduced to it? Through Endeavour.
Were you a rugby league fan growing up? I was half and half. I used to play a couple of sports through school.
Which team did you support growing up? When I was with Endeavour, we always used to come to BB Print Stadium and support the Mackay Cutters.
Who was your favourite player? Just all of them.
What do you love about All Abilities rugby league? It’s a good game. It’s great because people with disability can have a good game, have fun, enjoy themselves and be part of an event that is enjoyable. They can have something for them to enjoy for themselves.
What are you known best for on the field? I am one of the few fast players, along with a couple of others too.
What has been the highlight of your time in All Abilities? It’s all of it in general – meeting good mates, having a good team, enjoying the team as one, having an event and game.
What does this carnival and All Abilities mean to you? For me, it means a place where us disabled people can have an event for ourselves and we can all fit in as one and we can just have fun and enjoy it. There’s no judging. Everyone can have a go – wheelchair, crutches, whatever.
Do you have any goals with All Abilities? Not really. I just want to help others to enjoy the game and be themselves.
Who would be your best mate that you’ve met through All Abilities? There’s a few, not just one, so it’s a bit hard. We all look out for each other, we all help out, we all chat and see how everyone is going, and make sure everyone is having a good game.
Who is your biggest influence in life? There’s my mum, my stepdad, Kathryn. Kathryn works at Endeavour. She’s the one that’s been supporting and helping this team so All Abilities can flow, build it up and get bigger.
Thomas Graham
Age: 32
Team: Townsville Blackhawks
Career outside of footy: I mow lawns for a job.
Born and bred: Newcastle, NSW. I moved to Townsville when I was about 4.
How long have you been playing All Abilities rugby league? Two years.
How did you get introduced to it? One of my support workers put me into it.
Were you a rugby league fan growing up? Yeah.
Which team did you support growing up? The North Queensland Cowboys.
Who was your favourite player? Probably Johnathan Thurston.
What do you love about All Abilities rugby league? It’s a good sport to play. You can make all new friends.
What are you known best for on the field? I’m a fast runner.
What has been the highlight of your time in All Abilities? When we went to Mackay last year.
What does this carnival and All Abilities mean to you? It means it’s a really good sport to do and I like it.
Do you have any goals with All Abilities? Probably score more tries.
Who would be your best mate that you’ve met through All Abilities? One of my best friends, Adrian.
Who is your biggest influence in life? I can’t think on that one. There’s too many.
Mitchell Vella
Age: 35
Team: Mackay Cutters
Career outside of footy: I’m a part-time radio presenter on 4CRM.
Born and bred: Mackay. I grew up in Blackwater and I moved back to Mackay in grade one, when I was six.
How long have you been playing All Abilities rugby league? I have been playing for four years.
How did you get introduced to it? I was introduced through a friend. They already played it.
Were you a rugby league fan growing up? Sort of. I did like rugby league during the winter and cricket during the summer.
Which team did you support growing up? The Brisbane Broncos.
Who was your favourite player? Darren Lockyer.
What do you love about All Abilities rugby league? The friends and the family and mates, all of that.
What are you known best for on the field? I try to set up a lot of tries.
What has been the highlight of your time in All Abilities? Playing at BB Print Stadium last year when Townsville came down.
What does this carnival and All Abilities mean to you? It means that it opens up the door for people with disabilities that want to play rugby league, they can.
Do you have any goals with All Abilities? I don’t really have any goals. It’s just about having fun.
Who would be your best mate that you’ve met through All Abilities? Tom Webster.
Who is your biggest influence in life? I don’t really have one, I don’t think.
All Abilities Carnival
Who: Townsville Blackhawks All Abilities v Mackay Cutters All Abilities
When: Saturday, June 4, at 1pm. The carnival will be played before the Townsville Blackhawks and Mackay Cutters' Hastings Deering Colts and Hostplus Cup matches
Where: Jack Manski Oval, Townsville
What: The two teams will face off in a round robin-style carnival. They will then form the guards of honour for the Hastings Deering Colts and Hostplus Cup teams. There will be a medal presentation at halftime of the Hostplus Cup match. On Sunday, June 5, the teams will partake in a mini-Olympics at The Strand.
