Not long after former Wallabies Sevens player Acura "Junior" Niuqila finishes playing for the Redfern All Blacks against Moore Park this Sunday he'll be escorted by a NSW corrective services guard to a vehicle and transported back to Long Bay prison where he's serving time for armed robbery.
He was selected as the first person to take part in what supporters hail as a ground-breaking rehabilitation program which is reintroducing a minimum security prisoner back into the community via rugby league.
Patrick Aboud, the general manager of Long Bay prison, overcame red tape with the support of his commissioner Peter Severin to allow Niuqila the opportunity to train once a week with the Redfern All Blacks and play for them on a weekend.
He said the footballer carries plenty of trust whenever he pulls on the All Blacks jersey on game day and Aboud's commitment to Niuqila's rehabilitation runs deep because he's volunteered to act as an escort to the ground.
"There are conditions, and one is an officer takes Junior out to the training runs and matches so if [officers Peter Shiraz or Jody Dreoni] can't do it, I do," he said. "Rugby league is a very inspiring sport because it teaches teamwork and resilience – they're the good things the game is about – and I'm pleased Junior has an opportunity to be a part of that."
Niuqila, whose father represented Australia and his native Fiji in rugby during the 1980s, is in prison until 2018 for his involvement with a gang that planned to rob an armoured vehicle of its cash haul in 2012. Older and wiser he realises his downfall was trying to please two vastly different worlds.
"I was trying to make my father proud [of me as an international footballer] and at the same time hanging around [with guys] on the streets," he said. "Both things got … entwined …
"The trust that's being shown in me is amazing and while it is like a road to redemption it starts with me."
His coach, former NRL forward Dean Widders, said league has long been a source of "healing" for Indigenous Australians and he's pleased it's providing Niuqila with his chance.
"I grew up in an Indigenous community and while life wasn't always easy rugby league was part of the healing journey for my people," he said.
"I saw football as healing because of the principles the game is built around – teamwork, equality, being judged on effort, helping a mate. If a mate is injured on the field you just don't say 'see you later' you help him; encourage him.
"Rugby league is also about accepting everyone is different. They're the things I've always known rugby league to represent and I love it for that.
"My hope for Junior is this proves to be part of his healing. He's taking giant steps forward at the moment and it's an honour we have this opportunity, no one else in the country has it. I feel a big boost whenever he walks into the ground with his smile because I know he has great ability to change people."
Widders appreciates there'll be critics of a prisoner, albeit a minimum security prisoner under strict supervision, being allowed to play footy rather than breaking rocks or rotting in a cell.
"He's learning the intricate messages I've introduced at the Redfern All Blacks and that is everything we do, and everything we do as a club, is to help someone else's life become better," he said. "People will judge harshly but they've never walked in this man's shoes, they don't know what he's overcome. He's proven he deserves the chance through hard work and sweat.
"When we look at achievement it's through one narrow lens, the reality is there's people who've achieved the greatest things in life by just having a job, paying their bills and raising their kids. From where Junior has come, what he's overcome, he's achieved great things and we need to focus on what he's achieving rather than the bad decisions of the past."
There are other courses tailored to help prisoners re-enter society one step at a time that are making a difference.
The Tribal Warriors program at Blackwattle Bay allows some to be trained for maritime careers while the Clean Slate Without Prejudice boxing program at Redfern has been acknowledged as a success since it was initiated by NSW police superintendent Luke Freudenstein in collaboration with local Aboriginal leaders.
Among its throng are members who've committed a crime but haven't yet been sentenced, individuals that are incarcerated in juvenile justice centres and young offenders released back into the community. It's also allowed serving prisoners like Niuqila, who hails from Redfern, to prepare for his reintegration into the inner-city community.
Apart from boxing with police officers, the local youth, mums, school teachers, fellow prisoners, he also trains alongside politicians and dignitaries. However, it seems Niuqila has struck a chord with the kids.
"On game days the kids [from boxing] ask 'is Junior here? Is Junior playing?' " said prison officer Peter Shiraz. "That proves to me he can be a great mentor.
"I like that he doesn't talk about playing footy when he gets out, he talks about mentoring the kids. Just as importantly, there's guys sitting in their cells seeing what Junior is doing and it's giving them incentive [to follow]."
Replies
I played rugby with his father Acura Niuqila "Aky" for many years.
The most humble person you could ever met, I know how devastated he was when Junior started to go "off the rails" Im sure Aky is proud that he is turning his life around.
This reminds me of the longest yard a little.
About 3 months ago I submitted some forms on behalf of my good mates mother who's 76 to gain access to the inner carparks when she visits as she's too old to walk the 1.5 km to Sector 2 , I've called the lovely ladies on the switchboard to follow it up and have been told that this bloke is the one we are waiting on to approve her parking permit .
So I'm sorry you'll have to excuse me if I think our money could be spent better than Governent paid TPAs to Greg Inglis and driving old matey here around the place to play footy .
Anyone visited their local hospitals Emergency Dept lately ?
Victims of crime compo has been capped @ 10K these days even your wife / Husband / child is murdered ( wouldn't even pay for the funeral ) , yet it'd be costing that per month to support this clown . Greg Inglis was receiving 3 or 4 hundred thousand from our government to do nothing via an Indigenous organisation , whilst woman who've been raped struggle to get free counciling .
Sorry to ruin a great fluffy feel good story but , well you know ......