South Sydney Players Support Long Bay Correctional Programs

Last month, a number of South Sydney Rabbitohs players made a visit to The Long Bay Correctional Complex in Malabar, hosted by The Metropolitan Special Programs Centre (MSPC).

Current players Jack Wighton, Cody Walker, Tallis Duncan, Izaac Tu'itupou Thompson, and Ben Lovett, along with former Rabbitoh Jason Clark, visited the facility to engage in cultural activities and play a game of touch football.

Jack Wighton, who helped organise the visit, shared his thoughts on the experience. "People are in jail for doing the wrong things, but everyone deserves a second chance. So if we can get in there, share a bit of love, and have a yarn, I think it's all worth it. It's something so small for us, but you could tell how positive an experience it was for them”.

Players described the visit as "eye-opening" and "humbling". Tallis Duncan said, "It was good to reflect and just realize how good we have it and how things could be if they went a different way."

Throughout the four-hour visit, the players participated in a traditional smoking ceremony, viewed Indigenous art created by the inmates, and played a game of touch football, which Wighton described as "really competitive."

Governor Louise Smith embraced the importance of working with players, noting that they can engage in constructive discussions and provide mentorship to inmates as they navigate their reintegration journey.

This year's Ken Stephen medal nominee, Ben Lovett, has worked with several organisations to promote Rugby League participation in regional towns this year. However, this was his first time visiting The Long Bay Correctional Complex. Lovett emphasised the significance of such visits in aiding the rehabilitation of inmates and "helping them on their way to becoming better people and hopefully giving them a second chance in life."

Joining the players was former Rabbitoh and current Pathways Wellbeing Manager Jason Clark. He shared insights from the Long Bay’s Wellbeing staff on their approach to goal setting with inmates.

"They try to set day-to-day goals or long-term goals. You can only imagine, for someone in jail with a long-term sentence, what their goals might be. They break it down to day-to-day goals and try to help them find enjoyment in those," Clark explained.

Aboriginal inmates expressed the significance of having role models and mentors sharing positive stories and experiences. They highlighted the value of hearing about achievements, such as scoring tries and overcoming barriers to pursue a better life outside incarceration. Engaging in positive yarns with the players provided them with hope and inspiration.

The players look forward to continuing their work with Long Bay Correctional Complex in the future.