by Israel Folau
Daniel nodded, relieved.
Izzy bent down so he was face to face with Daniel. ‘I don’t only want them to have fun, I want everyone to have fun whether they win or lose. For them, this is about learning the game. For us, it’s about playing with respect for our opponents, whoever they are.’
‘Okay,’ Daniel said softly, ‘I get it now.’
Izzy smiled. ‘Take a couple of minutes off, then go back out there and see how it feels, all right?’ He jogged back onto the field to continue his refereeing duties.
Daniel sat down where the halfway line connected with the touchline. Directly opposite him, sitting in the same place on the other side of the field, were four other reserves plus Tom, Mary and Jeremy.
He sat and watched the game for a while, conflicting emotions washing over him. Why does playing sport have to be so complicated? he wondered.
Daniel saw the ball being thrown around, kicked from end to end, a scrum, a line-out and soon he was standing again, pacing up and down with his headgear strapped on. He wanted to be involved, running around and playing. He jogged along the perimeter to get to Jeremy and the interchange bench. It was time to get back out there and have some fun!
Daniel felt so free! He’d never played in a match where he felt that it was okay to drop a pass or miss a kick. Usually, even in practice matches or when mucking around with the guys at the park, he took every play and moment seriously – maybe too seriously. He saw that now.
When Sione dropped a pass and knocked-on, Daniel had to pull up and stop running after him in support so that he would be onside behind him as a defender.
‘Never mind, Sione,’ he called out. ‘That was a good effort!’
Adam, who was standing nearby, raised an eyebrow at him. ‘Don’t you want to tell him off for that?’ he asked, confused.
‘What do you mean?’ Daniel said.
Adam shrugged. ‘You usually get angry at us for making a mistake, especially Sione.’
Daniel flinched. Am I really that bad? he wondered, feeling ashamed. It wasn’t exactly what he wanted to be known for.
The opposition ball carrier was taken down in a tackle by Daniel and Adam. In the process, the ball was thrown forward out of his hands and he had knocked-on as well. Harrison jumped on the dropped ball, bringing it back into Valley’s possession.
‘See,’ Daniel said to Adam, ‘there’s no point getting upset. These things happen all the time.’
Adam shook his head in disbelief. ‘Who are you, and what have you done with our fly-half?’ he laughed.
The play moved upfield. Instead of pushing on, giving instructions and wanting possession of the ball, Daniel hung back.
‘Hi,’ he said to the attacker he had just brought down. ‘Next time you take on a tackle like that, hold the ball close to your body so there’s less chance of you dropping it forward.’
‘Oh, okay, thanks,’ the boy replied gratefully.
‘Jason! I didn’t realise it was you – sorry,’ Daniel laughed.
The boy smiled. ‘Daniel, right?’
Daniel nodded, and the two of them jogged after the ball.
Slowly but surely, Valley moved closer to the posts. The opposition were keen defenders, tackling anything that moved, but the Valley players were able to retain possession in the rucking contests and go at them again. It was hard work, but Valley eventually moved beyond the 22-yard line and were soon in scoring position. Daniel received the ball right in front. In another game he might have fired off a field goal in that position – an easy three points – but today he had the confidence to try something different.
Seeing a gap between two oncoming forwards, and another one far off in the distance on the touchline, Daniel slotted a kick along the ground. It bounced end over end towards the left corner of the field. The defenders, who hadn’t been expecting this, all turned around to see what was happening.
The ball shot off like a cannon and into the arms of Sione on the wing, who dived into the corner for a brilliant try.
Both teams cheered. Daniel even got a high five from a player on the other team – another first for him. The conversion kick was difficult – the ones on the touchline always were – but, because of that, these were the kicks that Daniel practised the most.
Everyone grew quiet as Daniel lined himself up for the kick. It was an eerie silence. The opposition would usually be jumping around and heckling, trying to distract him. He took a deep breath, ran up to the ball and kicked it high and straight.
Once more, players on both sides cheered and congratulated him after the extra two points were secured. His kick had been perfect, sailing straight between the posts and high over the crossbar.
Goal kicking was very important to Daniel but he had rarely enjoyed it. He thought back to how, back at home, his dad always made him kick twenty goals after every training session, even if everyone else had left. Daniel couldn’t deny that putting in the extra effort had made him a better kicker, but it had also turned goal kicking into a chore instead of a passion – and he was now determined to change that once he got home.
Sione jogged up to Daniel after the conversion kick and gave him a high five. Daniel smiled. It was the first time he had seen Sione congratulate another player. He was usually so quiet and caught up in his own thoughts.
‘I’m so glad you’re on our team,’ Sione said. ‘Not only are you the best kicker I’ve ever met, but you’re a good guy, too.’
‘Gee, thanks,’ Daniel said, too taken aback to return the compliment. He wished he had started the tour like this. He would have avoided some embarrassment if he did.
The game recommenced and TJ took a great catch. Jake was unstoppable in the line-outs, and Harrison had an awesome match, coordinating between the forwards and the back line. Izzy made a lot of use of the interchange bench, giving every member of the team a fair amount of playing time. Daniel wasn’t sure if the opposition even scored once, but he wasn’t focused on the score – it didn’t matter. There were smiles all around the ground.
Soon enough, Izzy blew the whistle, signalling the end of the game. Handshakes and high fives were exchanged among the boys, and, somehow, Daniel found himself feeling closer to the opposition after their match. Today the opposition had not just been someone to defeat.
‘Valley! Three cheers for the NT!’ Daniel cried.
This cheer was promptly followed by the local boys yelling three cheers for Valley. Afterwards, boys from both sides hung around on the field, chatting about sport and their other hobbies. Daniel even had a go at kicking a goal through the posts with some of the kids on the opposition.
Valley had won – and by a large margin – but no one cared. They had all had a good run and lots of fun. This was especially true for Daniel, who realised that he had not only found a deeper respect for the game but also for the people who played it.
Sione guzzled down the water. He couldn’t get enough of it. He had never drunk so much so fast. The sun was blazing-hot and unrelenting.
‘Sione!’ someone shouted.
He turned to see Jason and Kev waving to him. He had seen them play for the opposition but hadn’t had a chance to say hi amid all the action. He waved back to them. ‘Hi, guys!’
‘That was great,’ Jason said, jogging over. ‘Don’t you think?’
‘It was heaps of fun!’ Sione agreed. ‘What did you think, Kev?’
‘Yeah, I want to play again, like, right now!’ Kev replied, laughing. ‘I only got to be on the field for ten minutes.’
‘Lucky you,’ Sione joked. ‘I’m exhausted. How do you guys handle this heat?’
‘Ah, you get used to it,’ Jason said with a shrug.
‘Even Izzy looked exhausted after the game,’ Sione said, ‘and he’s a professional athlete.’
Izzy. Where is Izzy? The area around Sione, Kev and Jason was deserted. He couldn’t see anyone nearby, except for Tom, Mary and Jeremy, who were gathering up the team’s things. Where are the others? Where’s Izzy?
Sione turned around and spotted him in the centre of the ground. He was hard to see, standing in the middle of a crowd of waving arms and jumping bodies. The three boys walked over to find out what was happening. As Sione approached, he could hear kids yelling, ‘Izzy! Izzy! Can you sign this? Shake my hand! High five, Izzy! High five!’
Sione chuckled to himself. Just a week ago he was one of these young fans, hoping for an autograph from the footy legend. Not only was Izzy the focus of everyone’s attention, despite the heat and exhaustion of those who had just played the game, but he was taking the time to sign every autograph and acknowledge every boy that asked him a question. At that moment it wasn’t about sport, it was all about friendship and respect.
There were so many kids that Sione lost Kev and Jason in the crowd. Every fan walked away satisfied, carrying their prized autographs. That’s how I want to be if I become famous, Sione told himself. He never wanted to be too big for his boots.
Sione felt a tug on his shirt and looked down to see a small boy, probably a younger brother of an opposing player, holding a notebook.
‘Sign this for me?’ he asked.
Sione dropped his empty water bottle onto the grass. What did he say? He wants my autograph? This was an honour he didn’t deserve. He wasn’t a famous rugby player – he wasn’t even an adult! He was just some kid from down south who was visiting with his team. Why did this boy want his autograph?
‘Please?’ the boy asked, holding the notebook and pen up to him.
Reluctantly, Sione took both. The book was blank but for Izzy’s signature on the front page. It was hard to read with all its curls but Sione recognised it from the poster on his bedroom wall at home.
Sione didn’t have a special signature. He wrote his name simply and clearly: Sione Taito. He handed it back to the boy and smiled.
The boy took it back reverently, then ran off.
The whole thing had felt so surreal to Sione, like it wasn’t really him writing his name but someone else. Nobody could deny it was flattering, though.
Hopefully, Sione thought, heading back to join his friends, that won’t be the only autograph I sign in my career!
Daniel burst into laughter as Jake pretended his plate of spaghetti was a pile of worms.
‘Boys,’ Mary whispered, quickly dashing to their table, ‘there are other guests here trying to enjoy their dinner.’
Daniel closed his mouth, holding back his guffaws. Tightening his lips, his laughter coming out as mini raspberries.
Sione and Adam were also at the table, eating with their eyes down, not wanting to look up and start uncontrollably squeaking themselves.
‘Thank you, and try to remember the other guests in future,’ Mary said before walking back to the adults’ table.
Besides the twenty-four on the Valley tour, there were a couple of families in the dining room. Out of the corner of his eye, Sione saw a father at a nearby table look at Daniel, who was still snorting with laughter.
‘Shh, Daniel,’ he said, gesturing to the man giving them death stares.
‘Yeah!’ Jake said in a baby voice. ‘Stop!’
Sione, Adam and Daniel all looked at Jake, just in time to see the spaghetti fall from his mouth as he spoke.
‘Oh no, these worms are still alive!’ Jake exclaimed in mock horror. The entire table broke out into laughter again, banging their fists on the table. ‘What sort of a camp site is this?’ Jake continued, through bouts of giggles. ‘Serving us live worms?’
‘Stop! Stop!’ Daniel pleaded.
Dozens of diners were now looking at their table.
Izzy walked over. ‘I know what will help you to stop thinking about the worms,’ he said, grinning at them.
‘What?’ Adam asked, wiping a tear from his eye.
‘Dessert.’ Izzy pointed at the server, where bowls of rhubarb crumble and ice-cream were now being plated up by the kitchen staff. Some members of the Valley team and other guests were already queuing for their serves.
The laughter stopped immediately and the four boys raced to join the line. Sione found himself right at the end with Izzy behind him.
‘Izzy, I’ve been wondering,’ he said slowly, ‘can I ask you a question?’ he asked.
Izzy nodded. ‘Of course.’
‘Do you remember signing your first autograph?’
‘Yes, vividly,’ Izzy said. ‘I remember it felt really weird. It was super-flattering – it still is.’
‘Even after signing hundreds and hundreds?’ Sione asked, surprised.
Izzy chuckled. ‘Definitely. It isn’t a new experience anymore but it is still humbling. It’s amazing when someone wants to congratulate you for all your efforts on and off the field – especially when it’s someone you’ve never met before.’
‘I signed an autograph today,’ Sione said sheepishly, not wanting to boast.
Izzy looked down at him and smiled. ‘The first of many, I’m sure.’
They picked up their bowls of crumble and walked back to their tables. ‘I love doing it,’ Izzy added. ‘I want those who take the time to say hello to me to at least get a “hi” back from me. They deserve it.’
When sat back down in his chair, he found the boys trying to come up with funny ways to describe the dessert, but it tasted so good it was gone before they could come up with anything.
Chat then moved on to the usual dinnertime conversation of the game they had played that day. Sione had planned to congratulate Daniel on his performance and how he had mentored the opposition players, but he didn’t get the chance. His mobile phone vibrated in his pocket and that meant a message from home.
Sione pulled out his phone and held it below the table so the other kids wouldn’t see the scratches and dings on it. He read the message on the screen: Hope you are having a great time. How is the Territory? Looking forward to seeing you at the Championships in a few days! Love A, D and M.
He began to type out his reply when he paused. It had been ages since he’d spoken to his family on the phone and heard their voices.
Sione excused himself from the table and walked outside. He rounded the corner of the building, then dialled the number.
‘Sione! What’s wrong?’ his aunty gasped, immediately picking up. ‘What’s the matter?’
‘What? Nothing.’
‘Oh, phew! It’s just that you never ring,’ she explained, calming down.
‘I know. I was just wondering what everyone’s up to,’ Sione said.
‘Not much. Mele’s playing next door – she’ll be sad that she missed your call. Your dad’s watching TV …’ She partially covered the phone and yelled to Sione’s dad. ‘We’re looking forward to seeing you play at the Championships,’ she added.
Sione grinned at this. He couldn’t wait to see them in the stands.
‘All good, Si?’ his dad asked, taking the phone from Sione’s aunty.
‘Yeah, all good.’
‘How’s Izzy?’
‘Great. He’s taking us to see real crocodiles tomorrow,’ Sione said excitedly, suddenly remembering Izzy’s pre-dinner news.
‘Wow. Don’t get bitten,’ his dad laughed.
‘No.’
‘It’s nice to talk to you but these calls cost a lot, so we’ll see you Friday, okay?’
‘All right. Bye, Dad.’
‘Bye!’
Sione hung up and smiled. He put his phone back into his pocket and went inside, the sound of Daniel snorting like a pig once again filling the dining room.
‘Whoa!’ The entire team gasped as the huge crocodile jumped out of the water to grab the chicken dangling off the edge of the barge. As its gigantic jaws snapped over its lunch and it fell back into the water with a slap, the barge rocked to-and-fro. The river, which had been so flat and calm moments before, churned as the croc thrashed in the water.
‘Amazing,’ Daniel breathed, his eyes wide.
Adam shivered. ‘I couldn’t even see it coming, and then it was right there!’
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‘Unbelievable,’ said Jake.
‘Wow!’ TJ muttered over and over again.
Sione laughed, unable to find any words to say at all.
The loudspeakers above their heads crackled. ‘Well, she was certainly hungry,’ said the tour guide. ‘Our feeding pole was almost taken with the chicken!’
The boys and other tourists chuckled.
Daniel bent his head over the edge of the boat and looked back to see the crocodile swimming away. The barge’s engine fired up again. He hoped they would see another giant croc soon.
‘Careful, we don’t want you to fall in,’ Mary said.
Daniel sat up straight in his seat. This was one of Mary’s safety lessons he wholeheartedly agreed with.
‘That thing must have been five metres long,’ Adam said. ‘Longer!’
‘Definitely longer,’ Jake agreed. ‘Ten metres, I reckon.’
‘Ten metres?’ Daniel said. ‘It was huge, but do you know how long ten metres actually is?’
‘Yeah.’ Jake nodded. ‘Ten metres is how far Adam can run before he’s puffed out.’
Everyone in the group laughed, including Adam, who jabbed Jake under his ribs. ‘At least that’s farther than you can run,’ he retorted.
‘I don’t know if that croc was ten metres long or not,’ Sione jumped in, ‘but it was massive. I’d hate to see it in the opposition’s line-out at the Championships.’
‘That’s a great idea,’ Daniel said. ‘Let’s get her in the line-out! We’d be unstoppable!’
‘I don’t know,’ Adam said, laughing, ‘she is definitely too big for the uniform.’
Izzy looked over at the boys. ‘Speaking of line-outs,’ he said, ‘that’s what we’ll be working on at training this afternoon. We haven’t done much work on them yet.’
‘Cool,’ Jake and Adam said in unison.
Daniel smiled. Forwards seemed to love practising line-outs. It gave them something different to work on besides tackling padding after padding.
‘And if you look to the left, on the port side of the boat,’ came the tour guide’s voice, ‘you’ll see another croc swimming beside us. It might be time to get another chicken ready.’