Tackling that dream
For an 18-year-old , it takes a lot to make sure that aspiring NRL player , James Sidis , is down for the count . Well as far as he ’ s concerned , that will never happen , especially with the strong attitude and mental approach that he applies to everything he does .
A St Mary ’ s junior who plays in Division 1 , Sidis is capable of slotting in the back row , front row or the centre . However , it doesn ’ t matter to him what position he ’ s playing , he tries to make sure his impact is felt on the field , regardless of what role he ’ s in .
Unfortunately , Sidis failed to make an SG Ball side in 2020 while playing up a year . He has the opportunity to try again this year in his actual age group of Under 19s . He already knows what he has to do to get noticed .
“( You ’ ve got to ) be the loudest person on the field , communicate the most , get to know everyone straight away on the first day ,” he says .
“( It ’ s important to ) introduce yourself and pretty much have a big ego . They want someone that can lift the team , they don ’ t want passengers – they want leaders . You communicate stuff that ’ s urgent and give passion to everyone else around you .”
Off the field , James has been making an impact in a new role as manager at Bligh Park McDonalds , which he has been in for only a few months . The results and general improvement of the store are largely down to the positive and ambitious attitude that Sidis has brought to the place .
While it ’ s a completely different environment to the football field , there are some comparisons .
“ Both falls under the same category of taking leadership , taking initiative to delegate tasks which can then go onto the field and lead to setting up play ,” he states .
While James might know that he isn ’ t the best player in each team he is in , that doesn ’ t stop him from trying to be , nor does it prevent him from acting and speaking like he is . Some people may view this as an ego , while some coaches may take it as an impressive level of confidence .
It ’ s not easy at all to make it in the NRL . Players get rejected all the time
WITH PATRICK STAVELEY
and it ’ s up to their own character to see whether they have what it takes to keep pushing . Sidis uses the likes of Brian To ’ o and Johnathan Thurston as role models , who ignored bad feedback to eventually achieve their dreams .
“ I look up to some players that have ended up grinding for so long . Copping pain from getting dropped is temporary . Giving up is permanent ,” James says .
“ The people that keep going just want it more . They obviously enjoy the game instead of just playing for fame .”
With words like that it ’ s easy to forget he ’ s just 18 years old .
At the moment , failure is not an option for him but if he doesn ’ t make SG Ball this year ; his head will not drop .
“ I ’ ll focus straight back onto next year – I make pre-season look easy and I try to become one of the best players and just strive to do better . I can ’ t be upset with myself if I ’ ve never seen my best self in my prime .”
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