Sam Thaiday - Tries, Lies and Meat Pies: The Sam Thaiday story

SAM THAIDAY is one of rugby leagues most highly regarded and respected players. Often seen as one of the last true larrikins of the game, Sam has entertained Brisbane Broncos, Queensland State of Origin and Australian fans over his sixteen-year career.

But behind that playful facade and infectious grin is a deeply caring and thoughtful individual, a family man who is passionate about working for equality in the community. Sams book reveals his family connections to the Torres Strait, how it was his mum who taught him how to pass, tackle and how to throw a punch (just in case it ever came up), how he married his high-school sweetheart, and his wishes for his daughters futures.

He will also tell how this Townsville boy and die-hard Cowboys fan ended up a Broncos star. A one-club player, a rarity in the game today, he relives the high points of his career, including the 2006 premiership, his 2008 Dally M Award and his many representative caps. He tells some of the wild stories from behind the scenes of the club and representative training camps, with a cast of characters all NRL fans will recognise.

This is Sams unique story, told with his trademark humour, humility and honesty.

It started with a shy little Hi from a chubby, curly-haired guy

Im someone who has been on Sams journey since day one and, as his biggest fan, it is only fitting that I get the chance to say something in his book, especially given that I have never held back from telling him what I thought ever since the first week of meeting each other in Year 8.

Sam and I met on the basketball court at Kirwan High School, before he realised that his playing ground in life would be the footy field. He was a chubby, long-haired kid who didnt have much to say (at the time) but had a heart of gold, and, with some direction and good advice from the people close to him, would achieve more than that young boy from Townsville could ever have imagined.

Ive been around for every stage of his career, all of the ups and the downs in our own words we call it our roller-coaster of emotions.

From Sam signing his first contract with the Broncos, to winning the premiership in 2006 (I was in the crowd with his mum, but only as a friend at that stage) and playing on the winning State of Origin team in 2006, to his being made captain of the Brisbane Broncos, to reaching his 250th game in Melbourne and seeing our girls on the field for the first time with their dad, hand in hand there have been so many beautiful and memorable moments on and off the field.

I have also seen him go through the hard knocks week in and week out and ridden the lows with him, including getting that dreaded phone call from the team doctor at 2 am when Sam was in London representing his country during the Tri-Nations tour. It was so hard not being there beside him when he was ushered into massive facial reconstruction surgery, and not knowing if hed be okay. I did fly in just in time to be there at his bedside when he woke up after surgery.

Being a rugby league player is not at all pretty. These men put their bodies on the line every day on the field, going through gruelling training sessions and tough games. Not to mention constantly travelling and being away from home.

But one valuable lesson that Ive learned through this journey with Sam is that you can achieve anything you want to, if you work hard for it and also that loyalty and respect are, as he says, the true signs of a persons worth. These two characteristics have never changed for my chubby but cute best friend his loyalty and respect for his team, family and friends has always been fierce, and something I admire as a wife.

I am proud to call him my husband and proud to call him my best friend. As proud as he is to be a Queenslander through and through, I think. Im sure this is in-built from the moment they pull on their first State of Origin jumper. You could almost say it runs in their blood.

Sam is an amazing father and role model to our girls. He is determined, loving, compassionate and true to his word. I guess you could say what you see is what you get with Sam. There is nothing to hide and he oozes real, if that makes sense, both on and off the field. Especially in his last couple of years playing, he has definitely been able to find another side of himself, and you dont get much more real than that super cheeky forward running around the team sheds after a game in his budgie-smugglers. I am hoping this is not his next calling in life because sorry, babe I probably couldnt take that career as seriously as I did your last!

With that said, though, Gracie, Ellsie and I cant wait to cheer you on in whatever you decide to do next. In whatever path you choose to venture, we will walk beside you. Whatever you do, well still be your number one fans. We cant wait for you to be home.

Rachel Thaiday

This is a true story.
Mostly.
Except for the parts I made up.

I knew I needed a killer opening line.

I was chatting with a mate over a few drinks and I told him I was writing a book. We agreed that all the best things wed ever read gripped you from the first line. I wanted something like that. We started tossing out examples. Maybe it should be:

It was the best of times, it was the worst of times, it was try time.

Or something even more dramatic, like:

They told me Id never dance the tango again but the rhythm said otherwise.

But in the end, I figured if I was telling my life story I might as well start with something honest and from the heart:

I reckon my brother regretted teaching me how to throw around the time he saw the axe flying towards him.

Yeah, thatll do it. Not quite Hemingway but its a good place to start. Ill explain.

I was born in Sydney not by choice. It was my parents fault. They were both serving in the Royal Australian Air Force and we were stationed in Wagga Wagga. Theyd come a long way to end up there, too.

Dad was born on Yam Island, in the Torres Strait, and was working on Thursday Island when the RAAF came knocking. There was a huge recruitment drive targeting the Torres Strait Islands, trying to convince men and women to head south to serve. Dad went along and listened to what they had to say. It sounded like a great opportunity to travel and experience things hed never see otherwise, so he signed up.

Mum, on the other hand, was living on a farm out in Western Australia. I doubt shed ever have heard of Wagga Wagga, let alone the Torres Strait. She was one of four daughters and I sometimes feel for my grandfather there. Ive got my hands full with two daughters, forget having double that plus a farm.

Back in those days, having four daughters meant there was no one to inherit the farm, but good luck telling that to my mum. She was, and still is, as tough as they come. She was raised in the shearing sheds and has held her own in more than a few pub brawls. Its no wonder she was so good at raising three boys. She never took a backwards step and certainly never took any guff from anyone.

When the Air Force put out the call she was quick to raise her hand, and soon enough she was flying far, far away from home, all the way to Wagga Wagga.