https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/balancing-act-key-to-townsville-blackhawks-title-charge/news-story/5bcdac7f3eef057d09d3262d1987ce5b There is a key element that has guided the Townsville Blackhawks to the top of the Intrust Super Cup food chain — balance. With a side brimming in NRL experience, off field passions and focuses has been a driving force behind a training environment bred from a love of rugby league. The rigours of strength and conditioning work is not an obligation, it is a release. Away from Jack Manski Oval the squad have created livelihoods that supersede their football pursuits. Kieran Quabba considers himself a teacher before an athlete. The recently departed Jake Marketo has contemplated ending his playing days to pursue his youth work. Sam Hoare continues to rise through Queensland Country Bank, and Moses Meninga has found a home away from away instilling self-belief in children throughout Townsville. They are just a few, but all those individual inspirations have fuelled a mentality at the club that while they are playing to win and further their endeavours in the game, it is not the be all and end all. Blackhawks forward Tom Hancock has fed off the work-life balance provided.
A lawyer by day, a tough as nails backrower by night, the 28-year-old said a year without the Steeden in hand highlighted how crucial that perspective was, and how it could influence on field performance. That much was made evident when the team finally were able to return to pre-season training. “It was just a release, I didn’t realise how much I was missing it until I was back doing it,” Hancock said. “I know that sounds silly, pre-season is just the worst time of year normally, but I really enjoyed the first month of it. “I think this year without footy being around it’s probably been too much time thinking about work. “Given the year we just had I prefer it, it distracts from the other so you don’t get too involved in one or the other … it balances out pretty well. “The Northern Pride I can speak to, they had a pretty similar attitude to it as well, and I’ve been pretty fortunate with the two clubs I’ve played at that they’ve had that attitude.” It is an attitude that was been inspired from the top of the club — spearheaded by football operations manager Adrian Thomson and coach Aaron Payne. Even without an ISC trophy in their cabinet, the green machine have been constant top four threats on the back of this philosophy installed since Kristian Woolf was announced as inaugural coach. What has transpired has been an enigmatic brand of rugby league, and a collective drive away from everyday life to finally deliver a premiership to the region. Thomson said that intense mindset could not be sustained when the game was constantly at the forefront of the players’ minds. Hence why the Blackhawks have encouraged off field pursuits to take precedent over on field — to channel their football vision. “It’s got to be a really good balance there with commitment, we want to see them succeed in life outside of footy. That’s part of developing footballers, to have something outside of playing,” Thomson said. “In the last couple of years our squad has matured a fair bit, we’ve had guys there who have been there for a few years now and you can see the difference in their thought process. “They still want to succeed and be NRL players, but they’re all knuckling down and have jobs that can further themselves outside of footy. “It’s important, like if anything in life, if you’re happy with the off field stuff the on field performance follows.” Even at the heights of rugby league, the NRL has set about ensuring players are prepared for life away from the game. A common theme in years gone by has been the mental health struggles former athletes have gone through once their time on the field has come to an end. Without the drive to compete, without the livelihood they had worked their whole lives to attain, the psychological battle has hindered many. And when the COVID-19 pandemic began to rip through Australia, Thomson said this was perhaps the biggest wake up call that a career in sport was not forever, and players needed to find their calling away from it. “I think it was happening at our club before that, but the pandemic has probably opened a few people’s eyes,” Thomson said. “Not only the players, it’s the staff and everyone with the importance of having a balanced life. “It’s at the top level, it’s driven by the NRL now. The numbers are higher now and guys in the NRL are studying and doing a lot of things outside of footy to better themselves outside of footy. “It’s come in the last 10 or 12 years, they need to have some release and that happens at the NRL level.”
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