On the rugby league field, Joel Thompson gave everything across his 234 NRL games and representative appearances.
Off the field, however, he continues to give even more.
A tough running back-rower from the bush, Thompson played over a decade in the top flight and captained the Indigenous All Stars team in 2020 but today you’ll find the 34-year-old sharing his story about hope and resilience with young Indigenous students.
From North Queensland to Western Australia's Pilbara, Thompson has visited schools all across the country with the NRL’s Road to Regions initiative in the hope to help disadvantaged and troubled youth know they too can break the cycle.
“I know I wasn't the most skilful player in the game, but I did play with all heart and I guess this is all part of it as well, it is all heart,” Joel told NRL.com in Karratha earlier this year.
“I know I have a story that relates to a lot of kids in these areas and hopefully if I can share some of the things I’ve learnt during the highs and lows of my career and help them develop tools to overcome adversity.
I feel like it is my responsibility to share some of my stories and to share that with these kids to give them hope and let them chase after their dreams.
Joel Thompson
“Rugby league is a beautiful game and it's not just about what we do on the field but what we do away from it too and coming to places like the Pilbara, I just want to help some of these kids and make sure they can believe and achieve their goals as well."
Growing up amidst the chaos of violence, drugs, and crime and struggling with his own identity, the father-of-three said he was once on a dramatic downward spiral but now likes to share several turning points which gave him a chance of a better life than the one he was given.
Joel Thompson shares his powerful story
Being taken in by his grandmother Gloria as a teenager is where Thompson believes he was given a second chance at life.
“I was never settled as a kid. I lived in Ivanhoe Condobolin, Wagga, Gundagai, Griffith and even Sydney for a bit," he said.
“I was in trouble at school a lot, I was in trouble with the police wherever I moved but I went into my Nan’s care in Ivanhoe when I was a teenager.
“There's a moment I’ll never forget when I was out the front watering my nans garden and I remember so vividly the police cars coming up around the bend and I knew I was in trouble for something I’d done.
“The police pulled into my nans driveway and said they were here to take me for breaking into houses. Seeing the embarrassment, the shame and the tears rolling down her face, that is an image I have never forgotten.
"We always talk about moments in our life and that was one moment that changed the direction I was going because I didn’t want to ever see my Nan go through that again. Someone that took me in, put a roof over my head and I just wanted to make her proud.”
Through his grandmother’s support, Thompson gained the opportunity to attend boarding school at Redbend Catholic College in Forbes.
Redbend allowed Thompson to pursue his rugby league passion and with the help of some special teachers and coaches, the Ivanhoe boy went on to represent the Australian Schoolboys before being signed by Melbourne Storm.
"I am very lucky that I was able to turn things around and that is why I want to help others," he said.
“Rugby league has given me everything. When I went to boarding school, to be allowed to train and play I had to behave at school and do my work.
“Over the years I have struggled at different times, I guess I was a boy during a lot of my career. It took me a long time to discover who I am, I struggled with identity I suppose.
“I’m proud to be a part of the NRL because some of the work we do is really powerful, it stars healthy conversations at school and hopefully they take it back home.”
Road to Regions going further than ever before in 2023
While Thompson works full-time in business development for THEE Group, he makes time each year to join Alan Tongue and the NRL Community team to help deliver the power community message of support, and further empower rugby league communities across regional and remote areas of Australia.
For Thompson, the main message he hopes to share is about Indigenous youth accepting help and support in order to break the cycle he once found himself within.
"I’m so grateful to have had great mentors like my grandma, my football coaches and even captains,” he said.
“Tonguey was my first captain in the NRL and has always been someone I look up to but I didn’t appreciate the mentor he was enough at the time.
“The type of person he is and the type of player he was too. I wish I took a lot more from him early on in my career. Now I look back and I realise what a great captain he was and what a great person he was away from the game.
“Have I got it all figured out? No. I still struggle with a lot of things but I honestly feel like it is my responsibility to share some of my stories for those who might be going through similar things I did as a kid.
“I wasn’t always someone that wanted to share my story, but I struggled a lot over my career with alcohol and mental health and I was just lucky to have some really good people help me get back on track in my life.
“I just want to give these kids a bit of hope and show that circumstances can change by accepting help from the good people around you.”