COWBOY’S CAREER AN EXAMPLE FOR OTHERS

TO reach great heights, talent can only take someone so far. It’s something Cowboys legend Justin O’neill knows very well, after the NRL premiership winner, Test and State of Origin representative opened up on his retirement and looked back on the reasons why he made it as far as he did.

There is no denying the incredible athletic traits of O’neill.

A Queensland athletics champion while attending Townsville’s The Cathedral School, O’neill was born to be a successful sportsman, and his steady rise through the representative ranks to NRL stardom reflects that undeniable talent.

But that is half the story, maybe not even that.

It was the support of those around him that propelled O’neill towards on-field success, especially his father Sean.

The former deputy mayor of the Flinders Shire would drive O’neill from the family home in Hughenden across large swathes of the Queensland outback to ensure his son was able to attend his footy games.

IT WAS THE SUPPORT OF THOSE AROUND HIM THAT PROPELLED O’NEILL TOWARDS THE PATH OF ONFIELD SUCCESS, ESPECIALLY HIS FATHER SEAN.

Whether it be Normanton, Mount Isa or even Canberra, Sean ensured his son was there to experience and gain opportunities that would give him every chance of chasing his dreams.

“One thing I always remember is going out to play footy and Dad would say ‘ go out there and do your best, as long as you do your best that’s all you can ever ask for’,” O’neill said of his father. “Those messages were never to push or to be better, it was more that he was proud with what I was achieving.”

It’s a message that should resonate through to people of all walks of life.

Through a network of close supporters, the devotion of his father – and his own hard work and talent – O’neill was able to turn his childhood dreams into reality.

Too often our community sees young talent going to waste, and it’s worth remembering that our young people can’t do it on their own.

They need others to believe them.