BROCK’S FIGHT
YOUNG GUN’S OFFFIELD CHALLENGE
BROCK Hamill’s first rugby league coach describes him simply as “a competitor” and right now the 19year-old is drawing on every ounce of that trait as he faces his greatest challenge yet.
The popular lock forward is currently going through a 12-week chemotherapy cycle to treat the testicular cancer that has forced him to take a break from his time at the Canterbury Bulldogs.
When the diagnosis originally came in November, it was met with shock. It’s a battle no teenager – or parent of one – expects to have to fight.
After going in for surgery on December 1 last year, the Hamill family knew there was a 50-50 chance it would return. Sure enough, seven weeks into his stint at Belmore, a routine follow-up found the cancer had spread.
But not even the loss of his trademark red hair has stopped him in tackling chemotherapy head-on.
“He’s doing pretty good considering what’s going on in his life,” said his mother, Kylie Hamill. “He has actually been keeping us a bit upbeat about it all. His whole attitude towards it has been quite amazing really.
“The goal is to get through this and then get him back down there (at the Bulldogs). He is champing at the bit, he was having the best time.”
Various coaches to have worked with Hamill over the years were full of praise.
Steve Dowd was the first, taking the reins of Southport’s under-12 side that his son Max also played in. Hamill was just making the transition from football at the time.
“There was this red-headed kid who had no idea but was tackling everything,” Dowd recalled of an under-12 school league trial, his first memory of Hamill.
“He would possibly be the best tackler I’ve seen for a young man. He just chops them in half. He is just a competitor. He could be getting beaten 40-0 and will still be trying his heart out.”
Glen Campbell saw him evolve during his years at Keebra Park.
“Brock matches his hair. It’s red and it’s wild and that’s what Brock turned up to school like in Grade 8,” said Campbell, who added Canterbury had made clear of their eagerness to welcome Hamill back as soon as possible.
“He was always a tough rooster and wanting to prove it. He had to work hard at his discipline off the field – it was not bad, he was just mischievous more than anything else – and the teachers grew to love Brock just for his outgoing personality.”
Southport A-grade mentor Mark Ross, who coached Hamill at Cyril Connell Cup level, vividly remembers the young gun’s decisive impact for Keebra in their national schoolboy final triumph last year, while adding his in-form Tigers side have Hamill’s battle firmly in mind each.
The Hamill family want to raise awareness of the cancer.
A GoFundMe page has been set up to support Hamill and his family, with more than $2000 already donated.
THE GOAL IS TO GET THROUGH THIS AND THEN GET HIM BACK DOWN THERE (AT THE BULLDOGS) KYLIE HAMILL