https://www.townsvillebulletin.com.au/sport/local-sport/lost-boys-retired-nrl-stars-struggles-laid-bare/news-story/3f0e83986e86a8e981b495c7d9f3ad85 On the surface professional athletes have it all — fame, fortune and the admiration of thousands of fans. But beneath it all is an undercurrent of psychological issues that plague many once their time on the field comes to an end. Irrespective of what plateaus a player may reach, once that drive, that will to compete and sense of identity is gone it can be a daunting period in their lives. The transition to a new normal is laden with challenges. Former NRL star Tom Learoyd-Lahrs is one of those who has experienced such obstacles. Once one of the most damaging props in rugby league, the four-time Kangaroo was forced to retire at just 30 as the impacts of several major injuries ended his career prematurely.
The now 35-year-old spent the initial years of his retirement in Tamworth, however he was unsure for a while what to pursue next. He has since moved to Townsville with his young family, commuting to Ingham to work for his father’s carpentry business. With three young children and a fourth on the way, Learoyd-Lahrs has found plenty to shift his focus — new job, new town, and a new set of challenges. He has even begun sparring with former teammate Neville Costigan in preparation for the retired forward’s All Stars Rugby League fight night bout with Junior Paulo. But he admits the turmoils that come from leaving something behind he had worked towards his entire life made accepting his reality a difficult task. “It’s quite hard really to be honest with you. I wasn’t an old footballer when I retired — injuries forced me out of the game,” Learoyd-Lahrs said. “I didn’t get a fairytale finish like some guys, I was basically getting to the point where I physically couldn’t do it anymore. “That’s never easy, bowing out under those circumstances. It’d be nice to wake up one morning and say you’ve had enough and call it on your own terms. “I struggled with that because I feel physically I was ready to retire, but mentally I was still keen to play and ready to compete.” Learoyd-Lahrs’s dilemma is a common theme among many athletes. For some it is the loss of their sense of identity, for others it is the absence of a challenge and desire to motivate themselves for the next chapter. Both Sam Thaiday and Scott Prince have spoken about the roller-coasters they endured once their time on the field was over, ahead of their respective boxing bouts on the All Stars fight card in Townsville. For Prince, while he has continued to play local rugby league and State of Origin level touch football, ultimately the desire for a completely foreign test drove him to step into the ring. He said he needed that challenge. Such a core part of his life had been built around preparing for battle, so when that was gone he needed an avenue to divert his energy through. “When you’re doing it (playing rugby league) you’re fortunate to do it for a long time, but you feel like you’ve been built to train and play and be successful in your own life,” Prince said. “Certainly that’s one element, and it’s a massive element of your life — you’ve played for such a long time and when it feels like it’s done you’re constantly looking to fill that void. “I guess that’s one thing you really look forward to, that challenge and build-up to that.” While the loss of a competitive outlet can be tough to comprehend, James Cook University health psychology professor James Dimmock said it was largely the cultural aspect that players longed for. He compared it in a sense to the military — there was a significant transitioning phase to deal with. Dimmock said while certain professional sporting bodies had improved how they prepared players for life after sport, the onus on them needed to be higher to ensure their transition was not fraught with anxiety. “Much like military life, professional sport has a very strong culture, once you’re embedded in it your life is framed by a cultural bubble,” Dimmock said. “Inevitably removal from that bubble after being in it for so many years can be difficult for people. “Of course we know to get to the top of any sport nowadays you have to dedicate your whole life to that sport, so a lot of athletes don’t have much else aside from their role in the sport and involvement in that bubble. “I think some sports are still lagging behind and there would be a temptation, such is the performance nature of sports, to focus every second on the athlete’s performance while they’re still able to play.” Solutions to resolve this plight are not set in stone; each retiring athlete will be met with circumstances unique to them. But Dimmock said remaining involved in the culture that gave them such ambition and happiness was one method to ease away from the playing days. Outlets such as coaching can keep them embedded in that environment, and it presents a compelling challenge to channel their emotions through. Dimmock said it was a way to retain their sense of identity as they became familiar with their future path. He said in doing so it could help alleviate the health issues that stem from a lack of acceptance to change. “Whenever you have such dramatic changes in your lifestyle, physically or mentally, it comes with it a whole gamut of other changes,” Dimmock said. “Sleep for instance changes, dietary habits can change and all of these can tie together to present some significant problems for athletes. “It’s tempting to think these athletes have it all, the perspective in the community is these athletes are famous and can do no wrong, then they retire and get to put their feet up and bask in the glow of their fame. “But the reality is these people struggle to deal with that transition. “It’s a very challenging time of life and we certainly should be helping these athletes as much as we can.”
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