Trent Hodkinson still remembers when Owen Craigie came to Westfields Sports High to talk about the ins and outs of life as an NRL player.
At the time, a young Hodkinson could feel his NRL dream slipping away, having missed selection in several representative teams, but the words of Craigie stuck with him and reignited his rugby league dream.
Now an NRL Ambassador, Hodkinson is hoping to have the same impact on the next generation of stars, sharing the skills and lessons he learnt throughout his playing career to send positive messages throughout the wider rugby league community.
“I was talking about that [Craigie’s visit] for months,” Hodkinson told NRL.com.
“I’ve been an NRL Ambassador now for a few years and there’s no better feeling now than giving back and making someone else’s day.
“Since finishing footy, I have been lucky enough to have travelled all around Australia with these programs and although it’s about going out to the communities and helping kids and teenagers get through tough times, I’ve learnt a lot about myself as well.
“You go through a lot in rugby league, it’s not about just putting on boots and playing and on the weekends. There’s a lot of things you can relate back to people in everyday life and it’s special that we’re in a position where we can do that.”
As far west as Dubbo, north as Cairns and south as Adelaide, the former New South Wales halfback – alongside the NRL Community team – has been working hard to deliver programs to schools and rugby league clubs across Australia.
For Hodkinson, there’s still no better feeling than connecting with a student and knowing his story and advice could have a lasting impact on someone’s life.
“I recently did a trip out to Armidale. They had trials coming up for the rep team out there and I gave this kid a bit of advice,” Hodkinson said.
“He messaged me after to tell me he didn’t make it and we kept talking and his mindset has now changed and he knows he’s got to work hard.
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“I was never one to make all those rep sides going through school as I told him.
“But I eventually just worked hard, stuck with it and I made the NRL and that’s the advice gave to him.
“And this boy texts me now and tells me he’s working hard on a weekly basis now, which is pretty special that you’re able to have that impact on people.”
Leading the NRL Ambassadors is Program Deliverer Alan Tongue, who has been educating and inspiring schools and sporting clubs across Australia since 2012.
The former Raiders lock has been the face of the NRL Community team for the past 10 years, sharing important messages and promoting positive change through various programs such as Voice against Violence and League Stars Inspire.
“This ambassador program is really important to me personally. I retired in 2011 and I wasn’t 100 per cent sure what I wanted to do after footy,” Tongue told NRL.com.
“But in 2012 I was asked if I wanted to be an NRL Ambassador, so I joined the program and it completely change what I thought I was going to do.
“I thought I would go back into coaching and that would be it. But after I was showcased into the community programs, I started doing some stuff on my own and now I can’t imagine doing anything else.
“So I’m hoping that the Ambassador Program has the same impact on all these other guys and women too and we just want to build on that.”
Source: NRL.Com