Before my life split into a “before” and “after,” I was a kid chasing one thing: the dream of playing rugby league at the highest level. I lived for the grind — the early mornings, the bruises, the pressure, the reps no one saw. And it was paying off.
I’d earned my way into the Brisnane 'Stingers', SEQ rep team, and the Brisbane Broncos Elite Player Development squad. For a teenager, that wasn’t just a pathway — It allowed me to be competitive.
Back then, my identity was simple: I was an athlete. Full stop.
I didn’t know it yet, but those years were building something far bigger than a sporting résumé. They were building the discipline, resilience, and mindset I would one day rely on to survive.
This chapter of my life wasn’t about trophies. It was about becoming the kind of person who could face what was coming next.
And I had no idea how much I would need that strength.