Cowboy’s call to step up
FORMER Cowboys forward turned property developer Martin Locke has warned today’s NRL stars not to go down the “easy and wrong paths” and appreciate the opportunities they have.
The call comes as controversy has plagued yet another off-season, headlined by the Panthers’ grand final celebrations and Melbourne Storm’s white powder scandal.
During his heyday Locke worked as a plumber, not becoming a professional until the Super League came into play. He would pull on the North Queensland colours 54 times in five years.
Now an avid property developer, with his Flinders Lane concept now up and running, he said today’s current stars needed to appreciate the position they were in could give them the tools to flourish.
“Every generation has had challenges and I think footballers unfortunately get put on a pedestal. But they can set themselves up, and with that comes responsibility,” Locke said.
“And so they should, you can’t just take and not give back. The only thing they have to give back is just try their best and do the right thing.
“There’s enough people out there who want to help you, stop going down those easy and wrong paths.
“There’s a greater reward, and it’s like anything – the longer something takes before it’s even acknowledged the better it’s going to be.”
Rugby league is not without its players who have one eye on the future and a desire to engage with the community who helped build them up.
The likes of Ronaldo Mulitalo and Tom Gilbert actively get involved with their respective regions, and Cowboys hero Jake Granville regularly works in construction.
Referring to how he found a life away from the field, Locke said in his case it was the support from the people around him who made the transition away from football so seamless, opening doors he never knew existed.
He said modern day athletes needed to lean on those people to ensure they were setting a long-term standard, because there were “no sob stories from sports people anyone wants to hear”.
“I really think everything boils down to responsibility. Human beings, especially young men, don’t realise the power of that,” Locke said.
“The Cowboys were so good to me and my family, they offered me a job in sales and marketing and I just laughed at first – ‘ I’m a bloody plumber, I can’t even turn on a computer’.
“I ended up working there for five years. Take on as much responsibility that you can bear, and you will step up.
“Just do the right thing and believe there’s a better reward.”