Your Rugby League playing experience

[Sir Chadley]

Guys, really want to thank you for all your comments and suggestions. Letting him decide is probably the best way to go.
As I said I never played league at all except for under7s (can't remember any of that), it was mainly soccer for me, the best part of 35 years. I've signed up this year after a 12 year absence in Over 45s and my boy is very keen to see me play.

But at the moment when I get home from work, all he wants to do is go out in the backyard and play cricket first and then footy. Loves the new ball I got for him and he loves running in and scoring a try.

I don't think he's ready this year but next year for sure. He is going to be a big lad, he has my genes (I'm 6ft 4in and 127kg), so I think he would hold his own when he gets older and plays against any Polynesian lads. Time will tell. In the meantime he loves going to the Sharks games and yelling, "Go Sharks!"

Thanks again for your comments and keep the thread going, love reading the stories about the glory days.

 

[steve sharky]

i played three codes growing up
league
union
soccer
Had more injuries playing socver than the others. except for some nasty tag marks from unioun,'when you could ruck.

 

[sharkyboy]

What about the face plant at the normanby? Lol

That was easily a 12 week injury.

 

[stevie013]

played a few years of soccer from u6 to 8s, then played junior footy for north nelson bay from 9s-14s during the late 80s early 90s. played halfback and never got seriously injured. just cuts and bruises.

moved to sydney after that and didnt play league for a club. just played for the school and thats all. played rugby mostly when i turned 18 for quite a few years then started playing soccer with mates until i did my back a few years ago. i now coach womans a-grade for redbacks.

 

[HaroldBishop]

Guys just a little thread away from the serious stuff for a moment.

I've been taking my young boy (4yo) to a few games (may look at getting him membership next year) and he loves it. Bought him a Sharks footy last year and a better one on Sat night and he's been scoring tries and kicking goals in the backyard every chance he gets. I'd love him to play when he's older but I never played league at all, played 30 years of soccer. Plus my missus is terrified of him getting hurt.

Just wondered what your experiences were like as a footy player, what club, what grade and what position did you play. Are injuries a big turn off for young players?

Love to hear your thoughts.

Sounds like my experience when younger, Chad. I was desperate to play and the old man was keen as well. My Mum was the same as your wife though and wouldn't allow it so I ended up playing soccer.

 

[djhabib]

That was easily a 12 week injury.

I thought career ender when I saw it

 

[mattaus]

Played league from under 6's to A Grade with De La Salle. Started in the centres then moved to lock and hooker later on. Never had a serious injury.

Played 5 games of union for an inter school competition and snapped my collarbone in half in my 5th game.

Played 1 game of soccer, at goalie, and tore my anterior cruciate ligament and my posterolateral corner.

 

[SJTB]

Played 1st grade from under 5's (2 years because i was only 3 and a half or so)
until U16's and then had a muck around year in 2nd division. Played for St Clair comets and Minchinbury Jets.
Back row and centre

I had to stop due to a shoulder reconstruction from dislocations, tried both AFL and union, but the reoccurring shoulder issue wouldn't heal. So now i am a keyboard warrior, and my fingers are strong.

 

[Tatus]

Played 1st grade from under 5's (2 years because i was only 3 and a half or so)
until U16's and then had a muck around year in 2nd division. Played for St Clair comets and Minchinbury Jets.
Back row and centre

I had to stop due to a shoulder reconstruction from dislocations, tried both AFL and union, but the reoccurring shoulder issue wouldn't heal. So now i am a keyboard warrior, and my fingers are strong.

Sounds like my story mate, made all the rep sides. Touch, Union, league. Mates at school used to called me golden boy.

1st year first grade I stayed at 5"8 running at forwards like I was 6"2 and 100kg, ****ed my shoulder and have had problems ever since. I wonder if the club had a duty of care because I was never told to do this or do that, it was like.... 3 weeks has passed, let's get you back out there.

Played a majority at fullback/halfback/5-8

 

[Loyal Shark]

Played from 10 til 26yo , Lock second Row , Loved it , a broken collarbone , forearm and dislocated shoulder from getting crushed between a prop and a goal post , yes all at once , when I was 20, my son now plays started at 9 and he is now 25 , there is something about running onto the footy field with 12 other blokes and we all have one goal and thats to cross that white line and stop the other team from doing the same .It teaches you team work , trust and respect . Ive made friends for life from league. Live up near Coffs now and one of our local lads got killed in Afghanistan ,so to honour him the Bellingen Magpies play the Army Thunder , This event really shows what heart the Rugby League Community has got. This year the NRL have stepped up to the plate and playing for the Magpies are Jason Ryles, Danny Buderus , Mick Crocker and Brett Finch . All money raised go's to charity. Should you let your son play league , if he wants to dont stop him hes in good company.

 

[MD9]

Played from 6's to 16's in the Penrith district, I never really witnessed any bad injuries to team mates or the opposition. I was always the smallest kid out there, played hooker and was a bit of a grub. Fractured my elbow when I was 16. Came back and finished the season but didnt play again as my elbow was never the same. You should let your kid play, he'll love the game and friends he makes and it'll let him grow up in a team environment.

 

[SJTB]

Sounds like my story mate, made all the rep sides. Touch, Union, league. Mates at school used to called me golden boy.

1st year first grade I stayed at 5"8 running at forwards like I was 6"2 and 100kg, ****ed my shoulder and have had problems ever since. I wonder if the club had a duty of care because I was never told to do this or do that, it was like.... 3 weeks has passed, let's get you back out there.

Played a majority at fullback/halfback/5-8

Same story, the first time i dislocated it, i told them and the coach made me go back out.
Just got denied for entry into the police force because of a **** orthopaedic report due to the repeated dislocations.

Amazing how an injury so long ago plagues my life decisions lol, i hope i never see the coach again.

You no longer play sports, i tried rep touch and oz tag, it dislocated trying a flick pass in a semi, no one touched me looked like i got shot lol

 

[Tatus]

Same story, the first time i dislocated it, i told them and the coach made me go back out.
Just got denied for entry into the police force because of a **** orthopaedic report due to the repeated dislocations.

Amazing how an injury so long ago plagues my life decisions lol, i hope i never see the coach again.

You no longer play sports, i tried rep touch and oz tag, it dislocated trying a flick pass in a semi, no one touched me looked like i got shot lol

I tried a bit kid touch, but even going for that odd touch makes it wobble. I've woken up to it being dislocated... Cried for nights on end because I felt i had a future in the sport.

 

[fizman]

Played in the Queensland Cup many years ago - was offered a contract with Wests Magpies the year Tommy came down to Coach. Parents said absolutely not. We had to attend an Australia Day function which started on Saturday at 12 noon, the boys didn't finish until 8.30pm Sunday night.

Also played with some pretty wild men - Glenn Haggath (Canterbury), Billy Dart (Roosters), our own Paul Fisher. Even had a run with Sam Backo who used to turn up to training in his Kombi Van and do doughnuts in the middle of the ground before training started.

Highlight was playing against the Gold Coast Seagulls - they were the whipping boys back in those days, but they had some good players - Craig Coleman, Wally, Dale Shearer, Steve Jackson, Peter Gill.

Injury toll was 4 x broken noses, 3 x dislocated shoulders and 1 x knee reconstruction - I would do it all again!

 

[Born&bred]

I played all through school, but Union mostly. My school only played league when we entered the Amco Shield each year in the mid - late 70s.

I played Breakaway in Union & Lock in league, but I was really skinny back then - I just loved tackling (plus I can't run outta sight on a dark night), so coaches kept putting me in the forwards.

I kept playing league here & there after school until my early 20's when I got interested in other things & stopped. I was never better than average anyway.

When I signed up my boy for Under 7's years later I discovered that club had a Masters side, so I played 4 seasons of that as a centre.

Injuries - rib cartilage frequently, plenty of head cuts. My worst injuries over my life are from outside of football.

Chad - I haven't seen many significant injuries in junior league. Mouthguard, headgear if you want & he'll be fine.

 

[BlackWhiteBlue]

When we were 15 a mate snapped his leg (worse than yow yeh) he still walks with a limp. His leg wasnt set properly and required many surgeries to correct but its never been right (12 years on). Ive watched yow yehs progress and really hope he gets back into it to the highest level

 

[Born&bred]

When we were 15 a mate snapped his leg (worse than yow yeh) he still walks with a limp. His leg wasnt set properly and required many surgeries to correct but its never been right (12 years on). Ive watched yow yehs progress and really hope he gets back into it to the highest level

Don't tell Chad that!

Yeah one of my school mates snapped his leg @ around the age of 16. Was pretty cool for us at his age cos we hadn't seen a snapped bone poking through the skin before - he whinged like a bitch too...

On a side note he was a trophy winning sprinter up until then...

 

[creg]

Played for the Bega Rooster in the Group 16 league from U8's to U18's. Mainly interchanged between Lock and Second Row. Played Group 16 rep for 2 years in the U15 and U16's.

Moved to Melbourne and played for Seaford in a few games over a few years. No-one took it too serious so I wasnt overly willing to put much effort in. Mainly played with the Uni Union side.

Moved back to Bega after uni and played Reserve Grade for the Rooster for a year before heading to Canberra. Had kids, so gave the sport up.

Miss playing every day.