https://www.foxsports.com.au/nrl/nrl-premiership/teams/eels/eels-veteran-david-gowers-plan-to-curb-nrl-bad-behaviour-and-inspire-rising-stars/news-story/732e6897d14f461d1c2e4a988106bf5c

February 20, 2019 12:00am
John Dean

Eels prop David Gower is setting himself up for life after football. Picture Patrina Malone
Source: News Corp Australia
This season will be David Gower’s 10th and last season in the NRL.
The Parramatta veteran hopes plenty of other players across the game can also enjoy a long playing career as well — one that’s fulfilling and scandal free.
The NRL’s incident-riddled off-season has been well-documented, and it’s senior players like Gower the game desperately needs right now.
The 33-year-old acknowledges how lucky he’s been to live the life of a professional rugby league player, and when he hangs up the boots at the end of the year, he’ll be aiming to inspire the next crop of young Eels players.

 Every game of every round of the NRL LIVE with no ad-breaks during play. Get it all on Foxtel!
“I was an electrician before I became a professional athlete, so I know how good this life is,” Gower tells foxsports.com.au.
“I’ve thoroughly enjoyed every year I’ve been able to play the game.
“I’ve approached every day with enjoyment and I’m just really grateful for the opportunity that I continue to have and that I do have here.”

Gower knows all good things must come to an end, and it’s why he’s always had one eye on life post-football.
The prop forward is close to completing a Certificate IV in Elite Athlete Wellbeing Management — which he hopes to use at the Eels when he retires — and he’s also got one year to go on a Bachelor of Sports Business.

 

As part of his 2019 contract with the Eels, Gower has a part-time role in the club’s wellbeing department.
“It’s an area I’m quite passionate about because I understand how fickle the game of rugby league is and how important that off-field engagement and how important further educating and bettering yourself as a person is long-term,” Gower says.

“I’ve got a bit of broad role and part of it is to be working with some of the Under 20s boys and targeted elite juniors, so developing wellbeing plans for them and helping them flourish in their lives to benefit them on the field when they play and hopefully transition into the NRL squad.”

Gower believes the wellbeing space is the “next frontier” in world sport, particularly in the NRL.
“The theory behind it is if your whole life is in balance and if you’re flourishing as they say in every aspect of your life, your physical and your professional life is only going to be of benefit,” he explains.
“It teaches you to delve into all aspects of wellbeing and how to correct any issues or how to flag issue with anyone and seek to address them.
“I’m always speaking to the young guys. There are some statistics around off-field engagement resulting in less off-field misdemeanour.
“The more engaged we can get our kids away from footy, we think they’re going to be happier and less likely to be involved in off-field indiscretions.”

The issue around player education has become a topic of conversation over recent months.
Gower says he’d welcome more training for clubs if need be.
“You can’t be too educated, in my opinion,” he says.
“It starts at 16s, 18s, 20s — all the NRL mandated courses are run, and I’ve actually facilitated some of them myself so I know how good they are.
“But at some point, it’s going to be down to the individual and their own actions.
“What we’re trying to do is just worry about us as a group and understand that we as NRL players are high-profile and anything you do that’s detrimental to the game, your family or anyone, is going to end up in the papers.
“We can just try to focus on having well-rounded gentlemen here and that’s going to allow us to just focus on the footy.”

 

 

You need to be a member of 1Eyed Eel to add comments!

Join 1Eyed Eel

Votes: 0
Email me when people reply –

Replies

  • This reply was deleted.
    • Totally agree Doc.

      • This reply was deleted.
        • Pops, have to say this article pleased me to no end, its something that should be part of every club also the aspect that he has played with the club for some years now and knows the players and probably most of the history and culture of the club, both good and bad.

          If this type of appointment was in place across the NRL and RL in general it should help keep a lot of swelled heads down to where they belong.  

          I guess the old saying of "better late than never" is very appropriate for this appointment. I see only good can come of & from it.

  • I recall a lot of members suggesting Gower has some sort of role in the club after he retires from playing. It looks like he'll be here in some capacity, which is a good thing.

  • Great to see The Clubs foresight in keeping David associated with the Club.I can see David as an assistant coach one day and who knows where that will take him.Its "Good News Week" when you read articles like that about a Parra Player.

  • I'd love to see Gower commence coaching at some stage. He's got one hell of a footy brain and is very professional when he speaks.

    Watch any interview and see how impressive he carries himself and how wise his words are, he could be a very good coach IMO.

This reply was deleted.

More stuff to read

Nightmare Off-Season replied to Cʜɪᴇғ -'s discussion Big News On Lomax
"The Panthers just re-signed / about to re-sign May on 500k per season, and have re-signed Tago on 750k (reportedly) at centre. Our 3 centres probably don't reach 750k combined. 
So while they've developed great wingers as you mentioned, they've also…"
1 hour ago
MeelK replied to Cʜɪᴇғ -'s discussion Big News On Lomax
"I'd sign for that."
7 hours ago
LB replied to Cʜɪᴇғ -'s discussion Big News On Lomax
"Look i think it is more than just being put on the Wing. I think Flanno is a reason. Wanting to play semi's is another.
I think a move away will be an awakening for Lomax. He was on with Fltech and Hindy with Lawrie in 2022 and he mimicked Griffin.…"
8 hours ago
AlShaw replied to Cʜɪᴇғ -'s discussion Big News On Lomax
"600k is OK for the right winger. The Panthers sets are built on what their back 3 do on tackle one. The more momentum at the start of a set the more expansive a team can play but if our back three are getting smashed on tackle one and two it puts…"
8 hours ago
More…