Last night Queensland won game 1 of the origin in Adelaide. Queensland is my adopted home town and although I’m primarily a rugby union supporter, there I something about league and the state of origin that just draws me in. The state of origin has been played for 30+ years and throughout it, the fierce rivalry between New South Wales and Queensland has festered into a battle for supremacy, supremacy of the most dominant sibling per say.

The thing I love most about the origin is the commitment to the code, the commitment to the state, to the jersey, to the men who go into battle together. It is truly a spectacle and resembles the likes of modern day gladiators. The 26 men on the field go toe to toe and completely commit to their objective in raising the trophy at the end of the 3 game series.

Once upon a time my dream was to battle in a similar arena, the lights, glory and challenge drew me in. From a young age in NZ you bleed black, you perceive these legends of the game as gods. They create this persona of immortality and instantly you idolise them and dream of achieving a small fraction of their achievements. Much like the All Blacks in New Zealand, I believe the maroons in Queensland and the blues in New South Wales are these gods. Battle hardened, courageous and fearless warriors who would die for the jersey.

Dreaming of the objective of donning the relevant jersey is one thing, pursuing it another but achieving it, is a reward very few would get to behold. Putting in work and training in and around your objective, in sport, work, education, whatever the field, is both admirable but the ability to convert drive into focus into improvement consistently day by day is an incredibly powerful contribution to the search for happiness.

I grew up in a very rugby driven household, my grandfather was a decorated local rugby player who was one of the original few of the New Zealand Rugby Football Union, my father was also a great local rugby player and heavily involved with his club. From a very young age I was at the clubs every weekend, running the sidelines, getting equipment and supporting wherever I could. I can still smell the liniment as I think about my first rugby memories. However, I’ll never forget standing in The tunnel of athletic park as the Wellington Lions ran out.

The roar of the ground and the tension in the air draws back deep rooted passionate memories, my first memories of the mighty men in black performing the haka before battle. These memories forged a deep passion within me and regardless of the final result it created a connection, a passion, a movement for me, a movement that throughout my life has heavily influenced my happiness. The path didn’t end up as I anticipated but I’ll cherish those moments forever.

As they introduced the teams last night, outlined the debutants, showed glimpses of their stories and small segments of their thoughts on the moment, I recognised the passion and drive that had lit a fire within in them and a fire that was about to be ignited as they achieved a childhood dream. It was a beautiful moment for them, a beautiful moment for their friends and family and a beautiful moment for the fans and myself as we got to watch and share that moment with them in a way.

You never know what may ignite a fire within you and you never know what will contribute to driving you in a direction to pursue an unknown, a maybe and even though the dream may seem unachievable and even though many will fall short, the pursuit, the process, the lessons and journey along the way will bring deep happiness in itself, as you slowly move closer in that direction and you never know, if you keep pushing, keep driving, keep pursuing, you may finally get their and that small flicker may ignite a blaze, a blaze that will burn forever.

Whatever it is you dream of, go for it! You can achieve anything you want to!

Thanks,

Dean