Think back to your early years of high school when you were asked what you wanted to do for a career, basically what you wanted to do once you’d grown up.
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Even think back to primary school, because the earlier you go back the more fantastical, and often hilarious, that answer probably is – maybe you wanted to be an astronaut, a secret agent or even Batman.
Of course with young men there will inevitably be a few who dream of being professional athletes.
Naturally, it’s pretty rare for someone to eventually follow the path they aspired to in their pre-teen, or early teenage years.
Well, meet Blayney’s Lewis Bird, he’s one of the few who’s done just that, even if he did only realise it not long ago.
“I found something from year seven, where I’d written that I wanted to be a sports trainer in rugby league,” Bird explained.
“I always had an interest in coaching when I was younger, and funnily enough it’s come to fruition now, I’d never have dreamed it would on this scale though.”
Bird, who before moving to Sydney had played with the Blayney Bears since he was eight and coached there as well, also having a stint at Orange CYMS, has just been appointed head coach of the Samoa NSW under 16s and he’ll also act as trainer for the open side too.
“I’m very blessed to be given the opportunity, and very grateful for it too because it’s not something I was expecting,” he enthused.
“In 2016 I studied [through the Penrith Panthers] and after I graduated I moved home and started doing a bit of coaching, but got a call from a mate in Sydney to come down and do some casual work with the NRL as a development officer.
“One of my mentors was involved with the Pacific Islands side that was playing in the (2017) Universities World Cup. He asked me to come along as a trainer there … we came second which was incredible.”
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That Pacific Islands side was coached by Panthers legend Tony Puletua, who will mentor Samoa NSW’s open side this year.
Another former Panther, and Bulldog, in Frank Pritchard has been named to mentor the under-18 group.
“It just snowballed a bit after [the Universities World Cup],” Bird continued.
“I did some work as a trainer with Penrith’s under-17s and I was a trainer for Samoa NSW side too, and then I was lucky enough to get the call-up to coach the under 16s this year.”
Bird explained the Rugby League Samoa NSW Chapter was only established last year but with other nations “getting on board”, they’ve already substantially increased the number of games they’ll play.
That’s what it’s about too, Bird said, continuing to develop and providing players with another pathway and that’s the part of the job he’s most enthusiastic about.
And proving there’s a pathway for coaches too.
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“It’s pretty great to see the concept develop, and see these players get given another opportunity,” he said.
“We want to give them a chance to represent their country and give them every opportunity to succeed.
“I think there’s a lot of coaches out there who sort of, maybe, don’t aspire to go on to the higher levels because they think it’s a bit out of reach.
“But it’s definitely doable and I want to show that there is pathways there for coaches too. It is an option, for juniors too, if that’s something they want to do.”
The last time Bird coached in Group 10 was actually last year, when he mentored the Bears’ under-18 side to a semi-final berth.