MOLO’S LONG WAIT
Cowboy debuts almost three years on from tragic on-field incident
FRANK Molo admits there were days when he didn’t want to get out of bed. The pain was too raw. The memories too confronting.
Amid the Cowboys’ season of heartache, one man received his ray of hope on Saturday night when Molo made an emotional return to the NRL in North Queensland’s 20-19 loss to Souths in Townsville.
It has been almost three years since Molo was at the epicentre of one of rugby league’s saddest and most complex stories – the tragic death of Sunshine Coast forward James Ackerman.
Molo produced the tackle which led to Ackerman’s passing. He was later suspended by the Queensland Rugby League for a shoulder charge.
A Queensland coronial inquest last November found Molo should have received more help with his tackling technique.
In an eerie twist of fate, Molo, 23, made his Cowboys debut on the same night Redcliffe and Sunshine Coast played for the James Ackerman trophy in the Intrust Super Cup.
Molo can never begin to imagine how the Ackerman family is feeling but he has suffered grief in his own way.
He has battled depression and was abused by opponents over the Ackerman incident. He would have quit the game altogether if not for the support of his former club the Broncos and their coach Wayne Bennett.
In a bid to find a fresh start, Molo moved to Townsville last September and has been in superb form in the Intrust Super Cup, leading to his Cowboys call-up on Saturday night.
“It feels amazing, I’ve always wanted to be back,” said the softly-spoken Molo, speaking for the first time since the Ackerman tragedy.
“I didn’t find out I was playing until Thursday arvo. I was having a nap and a random number called me.
“I answered it and said, “Who’s this?’.”
The voice on the other end was Cowboys coach Paul Green. Molo has been out of the NRL so long he didn’t even have Green’s number stored in his phone.
“He said, ‘It’s Greeny,” Molo said with a laugh. “I didn’t have the coach’s number in my phone, but now I do.
“I took time to process it (his NRL return). I got a bit emotional, it was one of my goals to come back. There’s a quality squad here so I’m not taking anything for granted. I have to keep working.”
Becoming a father has given Molo the strength to rise again. Since Ackerman’s death, Molo has had a baby daughter, Ava, who is now two. He and his partner are due to have a second child, a son, in August.
“Fatherhood has inspired me a lot. It kept me going through the tough times,” he said.
“You have tough times where you don’t want to wake up, but that’s what the responsibility (of becoming a parent) does. It brings the best out of you.
“I love the game and wouldn’t change it for anything.”
Teammate Michael Morgan lauded Molo’s “nice guy” nature and Cowboys coach Paul Green praised his attitude.
“I thought Frank added some energy when he got out there. He was good,” Green said.
“I’m really pleased for him ... it’s a great story.”
I GOT A BIT EMOTIONAL, IT WAS ONE OF MY GOALS TO COME BACK. THERE’S A QUALITY SQUAD HERE SO I’M NOT TAKING ANYTHING FOR GRANTED. I HAVE TO KEEP WORKING. FRANK MOLO