Bell rings in the changes
FORCED away from the field as the COVID-19 pandemic brought rugby league to its knees, Michael Bell was at least afforded something he may not have been given without the hiatus – perspective.
The Cowboys development player was ticking all the right boxes when 2020 got underway, impressing in the club’s victorious Perth Nines campaign.
However when the Intrust Super Cup was cancelled, the Moranbah product lost the
chance to press for higher honours, and now he is determined to make up for lost time.
But his time away from the game was not deprived of benefits, becoming a teacher aide at Heatley State School. Bell said it gave him an insight into what life after rugby league may be for him.
He said football was never going to last forever, but his experience opened his eyes to a new future he had not previously considered.
“I’d never really done something like that before,” Bell said.
“The kids were awesome, I was with the grade fours there and I loved going to work every day there. They all looked up to me as a footy player.
“I suppose right now is the time to start getting a backup plan because footy isn’t going to last forever. I did actually go back to Moranbah and complete a cert four in training and assessing down for the mines, which is a good step to have as a backup after footy.
“I had something to get up to every day and keep myself busy, but after work we went away every day and got in the gym.”
It was in his gym sessions Bell identified where he wanted to grow stronger as a player.
He wanted to add size to his frame, intent on cementing himself as a centre in North Queensland’s top squad.
Bell will be seeking a breakthrough performance of the season for Mackay tomorrow when he takes on the Townsville Blackhawks at Jack Manski Oval.
From the NRL’S round 11 onwards, Queensland Cup players can be called upon by their affiliated clubs as injury cover, and Cowboys coach Todd Payten has already identified his team is “thin on the ground”.
It led to Daejarn Asi being granted an exception to come into their top 21 last week, but Bell wants to put himself on the map as the man to be called upon if needed.
“You couldn’t really do much when the COVID break hit, but me and some of the other lads went back and started training by ourselves,” Bell said.
“We knew we had a full season ahead of us here after, and we wanted to be in good shape to come back and start the season. “I need to keep putting my head down training as best I can.”