Sharks forward Rhiannon Byers has opened up on her passion for supporting Indigenous teenagers as they chase their dreams on and off the football field.
The Wiradjuri woman works as a full-time youth coordinator for the Kurranulla Aboriginal Corporation in addition to her commitments as an elite rugby league player.
Byers works closely with Indigenous youth in southern Sydney to help them connect with their culture as they navigate the transition from school to adulthood.
It's a cultural journey the backrower is still exploring and she's starting to see a positive impact on her performances on the field.
Rhiannon Byers Try
"Having this here as my job gives me more of an identity and that has made my game stronger," Byers told ljmpta.com.
"If you have a cultural disconnection, your identity's not as strong and you're questioning 'who am I?' Working with Kurranulla has helped me find those connections and close that disconnection a lot more.
"I'm not with my family, but Kurranulla is my family away from family."
Byers is one of six Indigenous women in the Cronulla Sharks NRLW squad, with hooker Quincy Dodd a leader in the space both at the club and in the game as a whole.
The players have formed a close bond, using their connection to support each other while also helping others at the Sharks explore their own cultural identities.
The club has had a presence at NAIDOC Week events throughout the Sutherland Shire, with Byers' desire to help the next generation by building on the foundations laid by Indigenous Elders aligning with this year's theme of "The next generation: strength, vision and legacy".
"We sit down and yarn with the Elders and I'm just learning more and more about culture each day," Byers said. "Listening to their stories, they didn't have youth mentors growing up so it's good that our younger generation has that now.
"It's so important because without that mentoring we won't have our next gen so it's crucial we're able to help them stay in school, stay off the statistics and strive to be the best they can be."
Byers grew up in the tiny regional town of Pallamallawa, about 25 minutes east of Moree, where she witnessed first-hand some of the disadvantage experienced by Indigenous youths in the region.
Those challenges have played a key role in her desire to support the next generation, with rugby league emerging as a vital outlet for boys and girls.
Byers recently returned to the region for the second edition of the Moree Knockout and was inspired by the way the event united the community.
Sharks open up for mental health round
"Moree is having a tough time with crime at the moment," she said. "Our younger generation don't have a lot to do. You don't have a big Westfield or a big sporting complex.
"There's just a couple of footy fields, a PCYC, a Woolworths and a Coles so there's not a lot for the kids to do outside school hours, which is where [the issues] occur.
"I found that footy is the biggest outlet for kids, whether it's from home life or school, it's just a way for them to get away from it so it's had a massive impact on our community. That's why it's so awesome to see the Moree Knockout and everyone supporting a local community competition."
Match: Raiders v Sharks
Round 2 -
home Team
Raiders
10th Position
away Team
Sharks
7th Position
Venue: GIO Stadium, Canberra
Match broadcasters:
- WatchNRL
Byers is preparing to return to the field on Saturday afternoon when the Sharks take on the Raiders in Canberra. Cronulla suffered a tight loss to Parramatta last weekend and they're desperate to secure their first win of the season.
While the current focus is on this weekend, another key event looms in the distance.
The competition will descend on Newcastle for the NRLW Magic Round, with six games to be played across two days at McDonald Jones Stadium on August 2 and 3.
For Byers, it's a chance for her family to make the drive from Northern NSW to Newcastle for what is a unique opportunity for fans from regional areas to watch the game's elite players in the one location.
"Mum and dad have said regardless of whether I'm playing or not, they're going down," Byers said. "It's the closest game for them all year."
Tickets to NRLW Magic Round are selling fast. Head to ljmpta.com/tickets to secure your place at a history-making event.
